Prank Involving Clear Tape Stretched Across a Dark Road Ends Horribly

A prank to simulate the sound of a flat tire, popularized by YouTube, ended badly for a motorcyclist last week.

The prank unusually involves putting heavy-duty tape, like Duct tape, directly on the road, sticky side facing up. Some cars will drive over the tape getting it stuck in their tires, while others find a way around.

A large SUV takes one for the team driving through the tape stretched across the road, in a dangerous version of the prank. (Image via YouTube video screenshot)

In this instance, the pranksters in La Canada Flintridge, Calif., stretched clear tape across a road four feet off the ground, according to KCBS-TV. A motorcyclist didn't see the tape and drove through it, becoming tangled. He or she suffered injuries as a result and was taken to the hospital.

Locals also were not amused:

“People look on YouTube, I know a lot of kids who watch YouTube videos and imitate it. Teenagers and kids they do things like that, but I think that goes too far. Way too far,” said resident Beatrix Schwartz.

Ryan Monroe rides his bike in the area and now worries about this type of prank.

“It could have been me. If it was night, all I have is a flimsy little bike light, so not so good,” he said.

Dessi Sieburth, 10, doesn’t find the joke funny.

“(They prank people) because they don’t know what else to do. Because they just sit inside all day, so they don’t know what to do, so that’s the only thing that comes to their mind,” he said.

Watch KCBS's report on the dangerous accident:

This is how the prank is supposed to work -- more of an annoyance to cars but still potentially dangerous to those on bikes:

Here's a look at the version of the prank that stretches the tape across the road at a potentially dangerous height (Content warning: some strong language):

(H/T: LAist)

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