RCMP: Social media trend potentially threatening Rossland lives
By Rossland Telegraph
Police are indicating there may be a very dangerous game afoot in Rossland and are asking residents to come forward with any information they may have, for safety’s sake.
On Saturday, Aug. 30, a frontline Trail and Greater District RCMP officer received a report of a single motor vehicle incident that occurred on Hwy 3B near Rossland, according to RCMP Sgt. Mike Wicentowich.
“The 66-year-old Rossland woman was driving her vehicle when her vehicle began to shake and make strange noises,” Wicentowich said. “The woman slowed down and began to turn around when her wheel detached from her vehicle. The woman was uninjured in the incident; However, it could have been disastrous.
“The woman believed that she may have been the target of a recent social media trend where someone intentionally loosens the lug nuts on the wheel of stranger’s vehicle as a prank
.
If you have any information regarding this incident or who is responsible, please contact the Trail Detachment at 250-368-2566 to speak to an investigator.
Trail RCMP is 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. We are asking everyone to be vigilant and check their wheels before driving for the short-term future. We are also asking anyone with information about who is responsible to come forward and speak to an investigator. This is a criminal act and incredibly stupid and irresponsible. There is a difference between real life consequences and what is portrayed through dangerous social media videos. 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,
Wicentowich said.
