The theft of two Korean-model vehicles, and the ensuing chase and crash that killed the motive force and passenger of one in every of them, could possibly be linked to a TikTok auto-theft “game.”

Police investigators are nonetheless probing the incident involving a Kia and a Hyundai, however they're trying into the chance that the thefts have been associated to the “Kia Challenge.”

The “Kia Challenge” is a car-theft “game” that has gone viral on TikTok and impressed a spate of copycat crimes. Thieves can take away the drive column of sure key-start ignition fashions, after which use the top of a USB twine or flash drive to begin the car.

At round 12:52 a.m. Monday, Lodi Police Department officers have been dispatched after receiving phrase of two males exiting a white car carrying flashlights. As officers arrived, the unique white automotive, adopted by one other white automotive, have been noticed leaving the realm.

Law enforcement didn't specify what fashions the Kia and Hyundai have been. Both manufacturers are owned by the identical guardian firm, Hyundai Motor Group, and a few Hyundai fashions have the identical design glitch that makes Kias susceptible to this type of theft.

After observing the 2 vehicles committing visitors violations, regulation enforcement tried a cease. The two autos fled in separate instructions, with police capable of comply with solely one in every of them, the Hyundai. The automotive fled at excessive velocity, and shut off its lights, main police to name off the pursuit.

About half-hour later, Lodi Police Department officers have been dispatched to a park after what gave the impression of gunshots and breaking glass was reported. In reality, the cacophony was attributable to the automotive that they had pursued, which had barreled by means of a fence and struck a tree.

Jess Bradford Jr., 21, and Michael Wyrick, 16, each of Stockton, California, have been extricated from the Hyundai, which had its roof ripped off by the pressure of affect.

The two males have been pronounced useless onsite on the park, which is sort of one mile away from the place the pursuit was stopped.

The stolen Kia continues to be lacking.

“Like all my stuff, I’m just like … I have no idea where it is. It’s crazy,” the Kia’s proprietor, who didn't present her title, advised KOVR-TV.

The Kia and Hyundai’s house owners weren't the one locals affected by the theft and crash — the pursuit additionally noticed one of many fleeing autos crash into parked vehicles, beginning a sequence response of vehicular injury.

“I’m still kind of mind blown by how it even happened and how this happened,” Gannon Shumer, the proprietor of one of many broken vehicles, advised KOVR-TV.

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