Pokémon Go is sweeping the nation, and along with its growing popularity is a steady stream of bizarre news stories and personal anecdotes of near-death experiences. First there was the Australian police warning users not to physically enter the police station when collecting items, and earlier today Washington's Department of Transportation warned against "pokemoning" while driving. The mobile game's dedicated subreddit is also filling up with reports of personal injury incurred while exploring the real world for digital creatures.
Now, a teenager has discovered a dead body floating in her hometown river. Shayla Wiggins, a 19-year-old Riverton, Wyoming resident, discovered a man floating in the Wind River early this morning when trying to catch pokémon from a "natural water resource," she told KTVQ.com. Wiggins called 911 and local police arrived on the scene to retrieve the body. The Fremont County Sheriff's Office confirmed the discovery in a press release given to The Verge. It notably excludes the phrase "Pokémon Go":
The death appears to be accidental in nature and possibly that of a drowning. There is no evidence at this time that would indicate foul play. Evidence located at the scene has led investigators to believe the man went into the water at the location he was found. The body was located in about three feet of water on the east side of the Wind River Bridge.
It's likely someone would have found the body had Wiggins not been searching for pokémon around 8:30AM. Still, it's quite remarkable that a mobile game — albeit one that encourages users to go outside and explore the real world — is resulting in such diverse experiences, both pleasant and unsavory.
from The Verge http://ift.tt/oZfQdV
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