Was a social media trend responsible for a vehicle losing its tire while driving on a highway near Rossland over the long weekend?
That’s what the 66-year-old Rossland woman who was behind the wheel believes, and it’s resulted in a public warning from RCMP in the area.
The woman was driving her vehicle along Hwy 3B just north of Rossland on Saturday, Aug. 31, when it reportedly began to shake and make strange noises.
As she slowed down and began to turn around, her wheel fully detached from the vehicle.
Mounties said the woman was uninjured in the incident, but said “it could have been disastrous.”
The woman told police she believes she was the target of a recent social media trend where someone intentionally loosens the lug nuts on a stranger’s vehicle as a prank.
It’s a potential prank that police do not find funny, and Sgt. Mike Wicentowich with Trail RCMP said he’s “thankful this did not end in a serious tragedy.”
“There is another report of a vehicle with loosened lug nuts and a suspicion that it may be linked to this same social media trend,” he noted. “This is a criminal act and incredibly stupid and irresponsible.”
Police are asking all drivers to be vigilant and check their wheels before driving in the days and weeks ahead, and urging anyone with information on this incident to call Trail RCMP at 250-368-2566.
“There is a difference between real life consequences and what is portrayed through dangerous social media videos,” Wicentowich added.
“The public can help by reporting any dangerous social media trends they witness online to the parent company and ask for it to be removed immediately.”
