Teen Girl Crashes Car While Watching 'Stranger Things': Anoka Sheriff

ANOKA COUNTY, MN — A teenage girl caused a serious crash while she was watching "Stranger Things" while driving over the weekend, according to the Anoka County Sheriff's Office.

After she was confronted with evidence, the teen admitted to watching Netflix while driving, investigators said. She was issued a citation and released.

In an email, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office told Patch they aren't releasing all of the information on the crash in order to not identify the young driver and to avoid "adding to her difficult week."

However, investigators said the teen's vehicle crossed the center line and was going "fully" against oncoming traffic before the crash. The driver of a semi had to swerve to the shoulder to try to avoid the crash, likely saving the girl's life, according to authorities.

Instead of striking the semi head-on, the girl's vehicle struck the trailer instead, investigators said.

The girl initially denied being on her cell phone before the crash, authorities said. However, her vehicle’s Bluetooth system was still streaming the audio to Stranger Things on Netflix, according to investigators.

"We are relieved this incident was not more serious, as it easily could have been," the sheriff's office said. "We continue to encourage parents to talk with their teen drivers about the dangers of distracted driving. The consequences can be far-reaching and tragic. If you are on your cell phone while driving in Anoka County, you should expect to be stopped and cited."

From 2016 through 2020, more than 39,000 crashes in Minnesota were related to distracted driving, according to authorities. In those crashes, 155 people died and nearly 1,000 people suffered serious injuries.