You've probably seen videos of people standing on top of cars, trucks or other vehicles on such shows as TruTV's World's Dumbest, or World's Most Shocking Videos. But the threats and dangers are all too real, including a Seattle-area high school student who died this week.

Over the last 3-4 years, car surfing has grown in popularity among thrill seekers, who yearn for the rush of the wind and adrenaline from standing atop a moving vehicle while moving at an often high rate of speed.

Kent-Meridian High School officials said a student died Wednesday from injuries suffered in a car surfing accident that occurred in the parking lot Tuesday. Lupo Benson, a senior, was seen jumping on a moving car in the lot after classes got out, but fell and apparently landed on his head.

He was rushed to Harborview Medical Center, but died the next day. The Kent police department is investigating, and King County Prosecutors are determining if charges will be filed against the driver; especially if they were playing an active role in the incident.

Car surfing is really nothing new, but seems to especially grown in popularity the last few years.  According to the Centers for Disease Control,  over 99 such related incidents over the last 15 years alone have killed 58 people, and injured 41 between the ages of 15 and 19. In many areas, reports of injuries from car surfing have increased noticeably.

Even at speeds as low as 5 miles per hour, a fall from a moving vehicle can prove fatal, especially if the victim hits their head.  Some incidents have been reported with vehicles moving as fast as 80 mph!

 

 

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