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How TikTok trend could be responsible for boy, 12, death after he was mysteriously abandoned at friend’s house with horrific injuries
- Stolen Holden Barina crashed into a traffic light in Wollongong on Tuesday
- Boy, 12, was found seriously injured in a house about 30 minutes later
- He was rushed to hospital, but died at the scene. It is unclear if he was in the car
- Police investigating whether crash is linked to TikTok where children tempt police into chases
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Police are investigating whether the death of a 12-year-old boy is linked to a shocking new TikTok craze that encourages children as young as 10 to provoke police pursuits.
A stolen black Holden Barina crashed into a traffic light in the early hours of Towradgi, in Wollongong, south of Sydney, on Tuesday morning, half an hour before the boy was dropped off by a silver car at a friend’s house.
When police arrived on the scene, there was no one in the wrecked car.
Thirty minutes later, around 2 a.m., emergency services were called to a home in Balgownie, in response to reports that a 12-year-old boy had suffered serious injuries.
A stolen black Holden Barina crashed into a traffic light in the early hours of Towradgi, in Wollongong, south of Sydney, on Tuesday morning, half an hour before the boy was dropped off by a silver car at a friend’s house.
The boy was treated by paramedics and taken to Wollongong Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Detective Acting Inspector Jason Hogan told reporters the boy had been dropped off at a friend’s house, who eventually called the police.
Det Hogan was asked if the death was related to a recent TikTok trend in which children challenged each other to steal cars and trick police into high-speed chases.
“We are calling on anyone who may have social media content that would cover this morning’s incidents to come forward,” he said.
‘We are investigating all lines of research and the social media line is also being investigated.’
Police could not confirm whether the boy was in the car at the time of the accident or whether he was known to police.
Detective Acting Inspector Jason Hogan said police are investigating whether the boy’s death is linked to a shocking TikTok trend where young boys lure the police into car chases
Police have established a crime scene at the home and are investigating whether the boy’s death is related to the accident.
A crime scene was also identified at the intersection with specialist officers from the crash investigation unit investigating the accident site.
Police are asking anyone with information or dashcam footage related to the crash, or how the child was injured, to contact Wollongong Police Department or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Police are investigating whether the accident at the intersection of Towradgi Road, Wollongong (pictured) is related to the death of a 12-year-old boy