OCALA, Fla. — Three young men have been arrested after an online challenge involving a haircut in the middle of a busy Ocala roadway ended with one of them being struck by a pickup truck and seriously injured.
The Ocala Police Department identified the participants as Christopher Coleman, 20; Andrew Costa-De Souza, 19; and Ruben Rodriguez, 18.
The incident occurred Sunday, September 27, 2026, shortly after 8 p.m. on State Road 200 in Ocala.
According to police, the three men removed a chair from a nearby restaurant and placed it in the middle of the active roadway to film a haircut challenge.
Rodriguez sat in the chair while Costa-De Souza began cutting his hair. Coleman recorded the stunt on video.
Pickup Truck Strikes Teen During Roadway Haircut
While the men were conducting the challenge, a traffic crash nearby caused a Chevrolet 3500 pickup truck to veer toward their location.
Coleman and Costa-De Souza managed to move out of the truck’s path.
Rodriguez, however, was seated with his back toward the approaching vehicle and was struck before he could escape.
The 18-year-old suffered serious injuries.
Three Men Arrested Following Dangerous Online Challenge
Ocala police subsequently arrested all three participants in connection with the incident.
Coleman and Rodriguez were arrested in Marion County.
Costa-De Souza was arrested at Orlando International Airport after returning from a trip outside the United States. He was transported to the Marion County Jail.
All three face charges that include unlawful assembly and dangerous use of public rights-of-way, violations of city ordinances.
The Ocala Police Department warned that participating in online challenges involving active roadways can endanger both those involved and passing motorists.
Police emphasized that reckless stunts of this nature will not be tolerated.