Teenager dies while attempting to climb Los Angeles bridge for social media stunt

A 17-year-old boy died while he attempted to climb a bridge in Los Angeles for a social media stunt. Police said the teenager was pronounced dead at the hospital and his identity could not be revealed.

A teenager died while he was performing a stunt on a bridge in Los Angeles (LA), apparently for social media. According to the police, the 17-year-old fell to his death while attempting to climb the bridge.

The identity of the boy could not be revealed.

The incident happened on Saturday (May 20), following which the boy was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Commenting on the incident during a meeting of the Los Angeles Police Commission, police chief Michel Moore said the teen slipped and fell while he was climbing upon one of the arches, in order to post, apparently, a social media broadcast.

This was not the first time the bridge made headlines.

Earlier, the local police had closed the bridge several times after it quickly became a hotspot for street racing, graffiti and illegal takeovers that drew hundreds of spectators to watch drivers perform dangerous stunts in their vehicles.

Comprising thousands of LED lights and views of LA’s skyline, the bridge was opened last July and replaced an 84-year-old Art Deco span.

It runs 3,500 feet (1,066.80 metres) over the concrete-lined Los Angeles River and connects downtown to the historic Eastside.

The bridge is the largest and most expensive span ever built in the city.