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"Ghost riding" stunt on video
(WCPO/WCPO.com)
"Ghost riding" stunt on video
(WCPO/WCPO.com)
"Ghost riding" stunt on video
(WCPO/WCPO.com)
"Ghost riding" stunt on video
(WCPO/WCPO.com)
Brian Gill, of Montgomery
(WCPO/WCPO.com)
"Ghost rider" in during stunt
(WCPO/WCPO.com)
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Skydivers are often questioned, why would you jump out a perfectly good plane?
The answer: for the thrill.
Well, 9News has found that Tri-state teenagers are a seeking a new thrill of their own – and it has nothing to do with planes, but everything to do with danger.
Pop culture claims responsibility for starting lots of trends, but who could have seen this one coming?
It's called "ghost riding," and it has to be one of the strangest and most dangerous things to come around in years.
"You just leave it in drive and you get out of the car – and you dance along side of it," said one Tri-state "ghostrider."
That's right. You get out of a moving vehicle just so you can dance – leaving behind a "ghost" at the wheel.
What started in Oakland, California, was quickly popularized through a music video by rapper E-40, leading kids from all over the country to try it, including Brian Gill, of Montgomery.
"I saw the video on MTV and it looked completely ridiculous," said Gill, "but also completely fun, at the same time."
Although Gill didn't videotape himself, a quick check of the Internet shows there's no shortage of people who have -- dancing alongside, dancing on the hood, dancing on the roof, climbing out one door and entering another -- maybe not even a door.
These friends made their own video, but admit it's fairly tame compared to others.
"Ghost riding was started, not to see people succeed, but because so many people were going to fail," said Jonathan Lovecchio, who made an amateur "ghost riding" video. "They wanted to see people hit their car into trees, run over their feet."
And there's plenty of those -- kids falling off cars, falling out of cars, cars running into ditches.
"It's completely dangerous," said Gill. "And completely thoughtless of you to get out of your car and actually let it roll down the street -- and halfway through I realized how dumb it was -- and got back in."
This guy [in the video] was not as smart. While he was out the window, the "ghost" he left in control failed to see the utility pole.
He was lucky to only suffer minor injuries.
Another man was critically injured when his car ran over him.
And one teen was killed when he tried to exit a moving vehicle, but didn't see the parked car.
Police out West have been targeting ghost riders for over a year, but it's a fairly new occurrence here in the tri-state.
And while local law enforcement has seen few cases, Gill says that doesn't mean your kids aren't doing it.
"Your kids will do it," said Gill. "Anything you think your kids won't do, they will."
"I'm not the smartest guy," said Gill, "but I'm sure there are people dumber than me willing to try it."
In addition to being very dangerous, "ghost riding" is illegal -- no matter where it's done -- on the street or in the parking lot.
If caught, you can expect some pretty stiff fines.
