Tragedy has struck in Los Angeles, California as a 17-year-old boy has died after a fatal fall from the iconic 6th Street Bridge. Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore reported that the teen had been attempting to record a social media video when he lost his footing and fell.
Police responded to the scene at 2 a.m. on Saturday, May 20th, and pronounced the boy dead at the hospital. His name is being withheld as the investigation continues.
The 6th Street Bridge, the largest and most expensive span ever built in the city, opened in July 2022 at $588 million. Spanning 3,500 feet over the Los Angeles River, the bridge was designed to be an iconic landmark in the city, rivaling the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Park in its presence.
Unfortunately, the bridge has become a hotspot for various nefarious activities, including street racing, graffiti, and illegal takeovers. Social media stunts have also been increasingly common, with a man fatally shot in January while filming an unauthorized music video.
Police have had to step up efforts to manage the large crowds and those attempting risky behavior. Chief Moore himself admitted that “we see that location, while it has spawned a great deal of pride in Los Angeles, it has also, unfortunately, served as a backdrop now for tragedies such as this.”
The death of the 17-year-old boy at the bridge is a horrifying reminder of the risks of engaging in dangerous and unprecedented social media stunts.