Two teenagers from Pennsylvania are facing charges after a dangerous stunt inspired by TikTok ended in tragedy. Prosecutors say one of the teens drove a friend during the stunt, which resulted in one death and another severe injury likely to last a lifetime.
The two incidents, both occurring in Northampton County—about 85 miles from New York City and 80 miles north of Philadelphia—were unrelated and involved different dangerous activities.
In one instance, a 17-year-old was, as described by Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta, sitting on a folding table tethered to a friend’s vehicle on June 1. The driver was reportedly reckless, and, tragically, the table struck a parked car, leading to the unfortunate death of the rider. The victim was identified as David Naggy, aged 17.
In a separate event, a 19-year-old allegedly drove in a parking lot with a 20-year-old friend “surfing” from the trunk. The friend fell off and sustained what has been described as a catastrophic head injury that will likely be permanent.
While neither teen is accused of having malicious intent, they are being held accountable for what prosecutors term “gross negligence.” Baratta explained that the bonds of trust and closeness they shared with the victim’s family make the situation even more poignant.
Interestingly, Baratta mentioned that neither driver has a prior criminal history. The victim’s family has expressed a desire for accountability but is not seeking prison time, leading to potential plea negotiations that could spare the teens from incarceration.
The families involved hope to use this tragic incident to raise awareness and deter other young people from engaging in similarly dangerous behaviors prompted by social media challenges.
It’s a stark reminder that these reckless acts can have real and devastating consequences, as seen in other states as well—last year, a similar car surfing incident in Utah left a 15-year-old girl with severe brain damage.
