Los Angeles Teen Dies After Falling Off Bridge as Social Media Stunt Goes Wrong
A 17-year-old Los Angeles teen tried to climb the city's 6th Street Bridge last weekend for a social media stunt before falling to his death.
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore stated that the boy was "climbing upon one of the arches" and was trying to stream it on social media. However, the Los Angeles teen's social media stunt went wrong after he slipped and fell to his death, according to Moore.
As the victim was still a minor, the LAPD did not release his name to the public. The Los Angeles Times also pointed out that the social media platform he was using at the time of his death was also not made public.
LAPD spokesperson Warren Moore stated that at around 2:00 am on Saturday, the police responded to the scene. They then transported the boy to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The boy reportedly fell into the iconic 6th Street Viaduct, which was featured in several Hollywood films.
"Tragically we see that location, while it has spawned a great deal of pride in Los Angeles, it has also unfortunately served as a backdrop now for tragedies such as this," said the LAPD spokesperson, He then added that they will continue their patrols in the area to "counter such reckless actions."
6th Street Bridge Became a Magnet For Social Media Stunts and Crime
The 6th Street Bridge is still relatively new, only opening last July to replace the 84-year-old Art Deco span that ran over the Los Angeles River. It connects downtown LA to the Eastside and boasts LED lights and views of LA's skyline.
According to the Associated Press, the bridge cost $588 million to build and is currently the largest and most expensive span ever built in the city and was designed to be a landmark. However, since it opened, it attracted many social media stunts, drag races, and illegal takeovers.
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Authorities closed the bridge several times since it opened, especially when it became an illegal street racing hotspot. Graffiti also forced the bridge to close, as well as illegal takeovers where hundreds of spectators watched drivers perform dangerous stunts in their vehicles.
It also drew social media stunts, with the most infamous incident being that time a man took a barber's chair in the middle of a lane and received a haircut there. There were also thrill seekers coming to the bridge, looking for cheap thrills.
People Reportedly Seen Climbing 6th Steet Bridge Arches, Giving Los Angeles Authorities Problems
The Los Angeles teen who died after falling from the arches of the 6th Street Bridge was not the first one to try and pull off this dangerous stunt. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, people have been spotted climbing the arches since it opened last year.
This was not the first time somebody died on the bridge either, as a man died after being shot while filming a music video there.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
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