After allegedly causing a freight train to derail in Nebraska, a teenage YouTube prankster, is in serious legal trouble. The act, which was done with the intention of making an “insane” debut YouTube video, according to the teen, resulted in $350,000 in damages and the 17-year-old being charged with a felony.
The prank that led to the incident
The 17-year-old, who has not been identified, recorded a prank video on April 21, 2024, in which a train and a car collide on the tracks. The “MOST INSANE VIDEO I’VE EVER TAKEN!” video shows an empty vehicle crashing with two locomotives and five loaded railcars about to derail. The video went viral quite fast, receiving a lot of negative feedback and amassing about half a million views.
The teenager told the investigators that a switch on the tracks had been flipped the wrong way. Subsequently, though, the authorities discovered evidence indicating that the teenager had tampered with the switch himself. They found that the switch’s padlock had been damaged, and security footage revealed the boy was close to the switch right before the collision.
Legal consequences
The prankster faces two charges of criminal mischief resulting in more than $5,000 worth of damage. These offenses fall under class IV crimes. Iif found guilty, he may spend up to seven years in jail and pay a fine of up to $15,000 for each count. The boy may face an adult trial since the Lancaster County Attorney’s office has filed an application to transfer the case from juvenile court to county court. His next court hearing is still pending, and he is not presently in police custody.
“This case highlights the need for content creators to exercise caution and responsibility,” said a spokesperson from the Lancaster County Attorney’s office. “The pursuit of viral fame can lead to serious consequences.”
Image courtesy: Capitol City Rail Productions
