An 18-year-old was seriously injured Sunday night after a pickup truck struck him on a busy Ocala median while he and two friends filmed a social media haircut video.
The crash unfolded around 8:10 p.m. on Sept. 27 in the 2500 block of Southwest College Road, also known as State Road 200, near Ocala West Plaza.
According to the Ocala Police Department, three young men ages 18, 19 and 20 set up on the raised median to record a video of one giving another a haircut. The 18-year-old sat in a chair taken from a nearby Raising Cane’s restaurant.
A westbound Chevrolet Silverado 3500 collided with a Lexus SUV entering the intersection from the plaza. The impact pushed the Silverado onto the median, where it struck the seated teenager.
Emergency crews took the 18-year-old to a local hospital in serious condition. No other injuries were reported. By Monday night, police described him as stable. His name has not been released.
Police said neither driver showed signs of impairment. The cause of the vehicle collision remains under investigation. Officers found no legal violation in filming on the public median, so the three young men face no criminal charges related to the stunt.
Social media influencer Yaj Lerom arrived after the crash, filmed the scene and spoke with the two uninjured young men. One described the moment: “I remember just hearing a whole bunch of cars, the tyres screeching and shit. Soon as I looked back, the car hit.”
Another said,
“Next thing you know, I’m on the ground. We’re pancakes and flapjacks, flying. I came over to sit down after the crash, and I saw my friend lying on the street.”
Lerom later told hypefresh the pair showed little emotion and that he warned them the risk was not worth the attention.
Online posts quickly labeled the recording a TikTok haircut challenge or stunt. Police statements referred more broadly to a “social media video.” False rumors that the teen had died spread rapidly; Ocala police corrected them the next day, confirming he survived.
The story gained wider attention through local outlets and sites covering viral content, highlighting a familiar pattern of risky roadside filming for views.
An Ocala police spokesperson stressed the obvious danger:
“This road is very, very busy and definitely not the place. It’s common sense, but some people don’t gain common sense till later in life.”
The department added,
“Don’t put your life or anybody’s life at risk for the likes. It’s not worth it.”
Cause of the crash is still under investigation. Information about the current state of health apart from the serious condition and stable condition has not yet been updated. The role of the gang in influencing the decision of the drivers is yet to be determined.
It’s still an ongoing investigation. Updates on the health of the 18 year old will be provided officially.
