Pokemon-related injuries: Two men fall from bluff while playing smartphone game; teen hit by car

CALIFORNIA/PENNSYLVANIA -- The mania surrounding “Pokeman Go” continued Thursday, July 14th as more users found themselves in precarious situations while playing the augmented reality game.

In North San Diego County, KTLA reports two men fell off a bluff while playing the smartphone game.

Law enforcement agencies across the nation are reporting a plethora of Pokemon-related attacks and odd happenings since the game was released one week ago, on July 6th.

On Wednesday, July 13th, firefighters rescued two men who fell several stories after a sandy bluff they were standing on collapsed in Encinitas, according to authorities.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the men were playing Pokemon Go at the time.

One man fell 75 to 100 feet, and the other was found unconscious 50 feet down the bluff. Both were taken to area trauma centers.



In Pennsylvania, a 16-year-old girl is in the hospital after the game took her across a major highway, and she was struck by a car.

Tracy Nolan says her daughter Autumn is bruised and banged up.

"She said 'Mom, I heard about the Pokemon game. I wanna go play. Give me your phone,'" Nolan said.

Nolan was reluctant, but handed over the phone. Less than 30 minutes later came a phone call that sent her into a panic.

"She was hit by a car crossing the highway where a Pokemon took her. The Pokemon game took her across a major, major highway at 5 o'clock in the evening," Nolan said.

Nolan said Autumn finished up playing and had to cross the road. Nolan said Autumn told her she looked down the hill and ran, but a car hit her. Autumn said she flipped three times before landing on the ground.

"No game is worth your child's life," Nolan said.

A spokesperson from Children's Hospital, where Autumn Nolan is being treated said she's not the first Pokemon-related patient.

They've seen a few because of injuries suffered while playing the game. They say the injuries are a result of players not paying attention to their surroundings.

"Please parents -- don't let your kids play this game. Don't. Because you don't want to go through what I went through. I mean, I really thought I was losing my daughter. That's how scared I was," Nolan said.

Pokemon Go works by using your phone's camera to superimpose Pokemon creatures into the real world. Players capture the virtual creatures and can amass a collection and train them to battle Pokemon held by other players.

The game has been downloaded over 10 million times to Android and Apple devices.