Was crash of stolen Hyundai in Boston that killed 2 teens linked to social media challenge?
BOSTON - Investigators are looking into whether a crash in Boston that killed two teenagers and gravely injured a third is linked to a viral social media trend that involves stealing cars.
Massachusetts State Police said a 2013 Hyundai Accent was speeding when it rolled over on Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester near the UMass-Boston campus around 3:15 a.m. Thursday. Four teenagers were in the car, which police said was stolen out of Jamaica Plain hours earlier. Troopers said a gun was found in the car after the crash.
Who are the victims of the crash?
A 14-year-old boy from Dorchester and a 15-year-old boy from Mattapan were killed in the wreck. Police said a 17-year-old boy from Roslindale was in "grave condition" Friday. The fourth person in the car, a 15-year-old boy from Dorchester, is also in a Boston hospital but is expected to survive, according to state police.
Authorities will not release the names of any of the teenagers because they are all under the age of 17.
The Kia and Hyundai social media challenge
Police departments have been warning drivers about a rise in thefts of Kia and Hyundai cars that's part of a social media challenge where thieves tamper with the ignition and steal the cars.
Attorneys general in 17 states want the federal government to recall the cars because they are too easy to steal, saying the vehicles don't have engine immobilizers. It prevents the engine from starting unless the key is present and is a standard feature on many cars.
Were police chasing the stolen car?
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was asked Friday about a report that police were chasing the car before the crash.
"The incident itself is under investigation. Any time that there is something as serious as this there's a full investigation so we will follow the results of that," she told reporters.
"It's unclear from the audio and other information that is immediately available what exactly happened. There's a deeper investigation that goes to put that all, to look at every facet of that and put it together."
