'Bird Box challenge' driver veers into oncoming traffic

A Utah teenager who crashed after trying to drive with her eyes covered was taking part in a viral online challenge, police say.

The 17-year-old girl was driving a pick-up truck on Monday (local time) when she decided to try the 'Bird Box challenge', said Travis Lyman of Layton police.

Bird Box is a Sandra Bullock thriller recently released by streaming platform Netflix. Characters in the film have to stay blindfolded, or risk being tricked into killing themselves by an evil entity.

Luckily no one was injured when the girl crashed after veering into oncoming traffic and hitting another vehicle.

"Honestly, I'm almost embarrassed to have to say 'don’t drive with your eyes covered', but you know apparently we do have to say that," said Mr Lyman, Fox 13 reported.

"The stakes are just so high and it's just such a potentially dangerous thing as it is: to try and do it in that way is inexcusable. It really puts everybody at risk."

The teenager hasn't yet been charged, but is likely to be accused of reckless driving, police said.

Netflix has begged viewers not to try the Bird Box challenge.

"We don't know how this started, and we appreciate the love, but Boy and Girl have just one wish for 2019 and it is that you not end up in the hospital due to memes," the network said last week.

Newshub.