---
title: "Blindfolded Teen Driver Crashes Into Oncoming Traffic Attempting Bird Box Challenge"
description: "A newly-licensed Utah teen is facing reckless driving charges after she blindfolded herself while driving and crashed into oncoming traffic in an attempt to perform the Bird Box Challenge."
date: "2019-01-11"
modified: "2019-04-12"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/25919/blindfolded-teen-driver-crashes-into-oncoming-traffic-attempting-bird-box-challenge"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Crash"
  - "dumb"
  - "teen drivers"
  - "Utah"
  - "Viral"
---

# Blindfolded Teen Driver Crashes Into Oncoming Traffic Attempting Bird Box Challenge

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/01/49758999_2280044298706603_644990099427164160_nhero-copy.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

A newly-licensed Utah teen is facing reckless driving charges after she blindfolded herself while driving and crashed into oncoming traffic in an attempt to perform the "*Bird Box* Challenge," a viral stunt inspired by the Netflix hit where people attempt to do everyday tasks without the handy help of vision. Key word: Attempt.

According to the [Layton City Police Department,](<https://www.facebook.com/laytoncitypolice/posts/2280045122039854>) the unnamed 17-year-old and her 16-year-old passenger were driving down a major thoroughfare in town when the older teen decided it was the perfect time to play-act [*Bird Box*.](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2AsIXSh2xo>) If you haven't seen the movie, the gist is the world is plagued by supernatural beings that will compel anyone who sees them to kill themselves. Hence, the blindfolds.

![message-editor%2F1547256223058-49758999\_2280044298706603\_644990099427164160\_n.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1547256223058-49758999_2280044298706603_644990099427164160_n.jpg>)
**Layton City Police Department**

Following star Sandra Bullock's lead, the teen intentionally blindfolded herself on Monday afternoon while driving by pulling her beanie down over her eyes. [*ABC 4 News* reports](<https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/layton-police-teen-attempts-bird-box-challenge-while-driving/1697624409>) she "immediately" lost control of her pickup, crossed over the center line, and struck a glancing blow on a Honda HR-V before spinning off the road.

![message-editor%2F1547256257569-49686376\_2280044312039935\_7779993619280166912\_n.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1547256257569-49686376_2280044312039935_7779993619280166912_n.jpg>)
*The innocent victim., *Layton City Police Department**

Amazingly, no one was [injured](<https://www.1800-car-wreck.com/#1800about>)—though this story could have had a much darker tone had she struck the innocent driver head-on. There is a blind-driving scene in the movie, though it involves a new Jeep Grand Cherokee and some unrealistically-powerful parking sensors. For what it's worth, [*Car & Driver* attempted](<https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a25736661/netflix-birdbox-test-driving-blind/>) to accurately replicate that bit on a closed course and found it impossible.

Police are reportedly weighing reckless driving charges against the teen. We'd go much farther than that. Driving is one of the most inherently dangerous things we do, and this kind of willful disregard for the safety of others should be grounds for an immediate and long-lasting suspension, just like a DUI.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1080525103593512962

Age and inexperience are poor excuses; this person purposefully blinded themselves at the controls of a two-ton metal missile and put innocent lives at risk. For its part, [Netflix has pleaded](<https://twitter.com/netflix/status/1080525103593512962>) with people to be safe and avoid hurting themselves with the *Bird Box* Challenge. Might want to add an "or others" to the tweet.

https://youtube.com/embed/o2AsIXSh2xo

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)