4 teens killed, one seriously injured and possible TikTok challenge, 16-year-old charged

Adam Devine
Buffalo police department patrol Cruiser-stock photo

Buffalo, NY – Four teenagers were killed, and one was seriously injured in a stolen Kia in Buffalo driven by a 16-year-old male. Authorities suspect the incident may be related to a trend on Tik-Tok called the Kia challenge. In that challenge, teens are encouraged to break into Kia vehicles and hotwire them using a USB cable and a screwdriver.

According to the Buffalo police, the 16-year-old was driving the car, which was reported stolen earlier. He was driving inbound Kensington Expressway when the crash occurred near the entrance to the westbound Scajaquada Expressway.

All five passengers were ejected from the vehicle.

“Three of the passengers, a 17-year-old male, a 16-year-old male, and a 14-year-old female, were pronounced dead at the scene,” the Buffalo Police Department said in a statement. “A fourth passenger, a 19-year-old male, died at ECMC. The fifth passenger, a 14-year-old female, remains hospitalized at ECMC with serious physical injuries. The adolescent offender was treated for minor injuries and released from the hospital.”


Police are continuing to investigate the crash, and law enforcement officials, under the condition of anonymity, said they suspect the incident could be related to The TikTok challenge, but at this point has not been determined.

The name of the 16-year-old driver was not announced. He was charged with criminal possession of stolen property, and one count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Further charges are pending at this time.

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