Couch-Surfing Stunt Kills Man In Quebec

Usually, the most dangerous part of couch surfing is asking your host if you can sack out in his living room a few more days.

In Québec, however, they've turned couch surfing into a bloodsport.

An unidentified 22-year-old man died when the group of friends tied a couch atop a sled to a van, sped down the road and then collided with an oncoming car, The Gazette reported.

The driver of the van lost control and the couch slid into the oncoming lane, according to CBC. The two other people along for the couch-surfing session were not injured.

Quebec cops said that the 21-year-old driver of the van faces charges of fleeing the scene of the crime and dangerous driving.

"Couch surfing" is informally known as the practice of staying at a friend or acquaintance's home rather than a hotel, to save money while you travel. However, there are other examples of this more literal form of couch surfing on the highway or even riding one on waves.

Comments

[umass13]

04:17 PM on 02/22/2012

6 deaths, Couch surfing,. this is canadas answer to population control

[sifc33]

02:26 AM on 02/22/2012

Seriously, this happens all across college campuses every year, it's pretty much a staple part in any TOP TIER Fraternity's pledge program. Leave it to a bunch of Canadians to get it wrong.

[george22552]

08:07 PM on 02/22/2012

At 60 yrs. old I can still relate to how wild my college days were. For many college students it's the first time they're away from home. So now they're "independant" or "on their own". They're also hanging out with peers who may also believe they're invulnerable. That's not uncommon but tragic stories like this are a haunting reminder that we aren't invulnerable ! Doesn't matter what age they are either. Personally, I went back to school full time from age 24 to 26 after going part time at night for 6 years ! The "wild and crazy guy" in me was released among these 18-22 yr.old college kids. I suggest that the parents of college students openly share those times with them to at least demonstrate that those wild and crazy times are no secret ! Also, reinforce the idea with your offspring that in the long run - years from now - you want THEM to attend YOUR funeral instead of YOU attending THEIRS ! No parent should outlive their kids and my sympathies are sincerely extended to any parent who has !

[Kid Notorious]

12:54 AM on 02/22/2012

Hey! Its Social Darwinism!

[mcnairbo]

12:07 AM on 02/22/2012

Kids, always wear your helmet when you ride your couch down the highway. It's only common sense. Duh.

[budweezer]

11:55 PM on 02/21/2012

Dammit! if we all stop couch surfing, the terrorists win!

[chris2fer]

11:52 PM on 02/21/2012

Natural Selection

[SueZbell]

12:29 AM on 02/22/2012

if true, no survivors on the couch or in vehicle that drove it

but a good start?

[David305]

11:05 PM on 02/21/2012

May he Recline In Peace.

[Chestnut horse]

10:43 PM on 02/21/2012

Water bed surfing can't be far behind.

[David305]

10:41 PM on 02/21/2012

Couches kill. Make couches illegal Now!!!

[sifc33]

02:26 AM on 02/22/2012

HAHA! ^ this guy gets it

[AmosKnows]

10:35 PM on 02/21/2012

22 Years old and still dumb enough to do this. Survival of the fittest revisited.

[Robert Fanney]

10:23 PM on 02/21/2012

Sad. Just some kids horsing around and pushing things too far.

[marred]

10:35 PM on 02/21/2012

This is not "horsing around". This insanely stupid from the get go. There's not "taking it too far" at all. Too far was doing it in the first place.

[Robert Fanney]

11:06 PM on 02/21/2012

Kids do crazy things. They didn't deserve this.

[u s e r]

10:21 PM on 02/21/2012

Fail.

When couchsurfing is outlawed, only the criminals will have couches.

[silverwing]

10:11 PM on 02/21/2012

"Usually, the most dangerous part of couch surfing is asking your host if you can sack out in his living room a few more days. In Québec, however, they've turned couch surfing into a bloodsport."

Are you waiting for a rimshot? This is the kind of disrespectful, tacky, lowest-common-denominator thing I'd expect from the Daily Mail or the Sun - not from what *used to be* an intelligent news site.

A young man is tragically dead. His family are grieving. Save your terrible jokes until after the body is cold, next time.

[baldeagle3d]

10:18 PM on 02/21/2012

Not even Canadian Health Care could save this young man.

[sifc33]

02:27 AM on 02/22/2012

^nice move eagle

[andvoodoo2]

01:30 PM on 02/22/2012

If the "couch surfing" comment was the worst thing this young man's family had to hear, they're very, VERY lucky.

[NormalAmericanMan]

09:56 PM on 02/21/2012

I like the way the reporter pronounces, "Couch". Canadians. :)

[CFL68]

09:54 PM on 02/21/2012

I always thought Canadians were smarter.