Footage shows a group of teenagers taking off after crashing a stolen Kia on a highway in Minnesota.
Here is everything you need to know.
What happened during the crash?
A traffic camera footage shows the stolen vehicle crashing into a median during their attempt to evade a police spike strip.
The video further shows four youths jumping out of the smoking car and running to the opposite side of the road, where state troopers apprehended them.
It was reported that a 14-year-old boy and three girls aged between 15 to 17 were all taken into custody.
According to a police spokesperson, the incident took place at 5:30 pm when a Minneapolis rental car company contacted St. Paul Police reporting that a 2021 Kia Forte had been stolen.
The company also mentioned that the vehicle was heading towards St. Paul according to the car’s GPS tracker.
Moreover, Fox 9 reported that ‘St. Paul Police requested assistance from a State Patrol helicopter. The pilot used the coordinates from the GPS tracker to locate the car as it came to a stop on Portland and Dale streets in St. Paul.’
Furthermore, when the cops approached them, the teen driver speeded away from a residential area onto a highway.
How are ‘Kia Boys’ related to the incident?
The aforementioned incident most likely was inspired by a viral Tiktok video from the so-called ‘Kia Boys’.
The Milwaukee-based group demonstrates an easy way to hotwire vehicles only with the help of USB cables.
Law officials across the country have expressed their concern over the viral TikTok trend which allegedly began in 2021.
Kia and Hyundai officials address the situation
The manufacturers from both Kia and Hyundai have released an official statement regarding the recent car thefts.
Kia stated, ‘Kia America is aware of the rise in vehicle thefts of a subset of trim levels. All 2022 models and trims have an immobilizer applied either at the beginning of the year or as a running change. All vehicles for sale in the U.S. meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.’
Meanwhile, the statement from Hyundai read, ‘Hyundai Motor America is concerned with the rise in local auto thefts. The safety and well-being of our customers and the community is and will remain our top priority. These vehicles meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and engine immobilizers are standard equipment on all new Hyundai vehicles.’
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