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Road Runner prank goes viral: driver mistakes graffiti for real road

Road Runner prank goes viral: driver mistakes graffiti for real road

IOL News16-07-2025
A car has been damaged after a driver drove into a "hyper-realistic" picture of a tunnel with the Looney Tunes character, Road Runner, standing on the side.
Image: Instagram
When it comes to driving, vigilant eyes are usually trained on road signs and the rules of the open road.
But nowadays, drivers are being urged to take an additional precaution: checking if the roads they navigate are genuinely real.
Yes, you read that right!
Thanks to an audacious prank that has gone viral, reality took a whimsical turn after a graffiti artist decided to paint the iconic "Looney Tunes" character, the Road Runner, right next to a tunnel on the side of a bridge.
This stroke of artistic genius - complete with impressive shadow work - was so convincingly realistic that a driver, late at night, crashed into the wall, mistaking it for an actual road!
Can you say 'beep-beep?'
Images from the scene reveal the aftermath of this unfortunate collision, showing the ill-fated driver's vehicle and igniting a social media firestorm.
Now, local authorities are on the hunt for this anonymous artist, whose prank has caused a ruckus online, stirring both mirth and ire in equal parts.
The divisive opinions amongst locals have labelled the prank as 'dangerous' and 'genius', drawing comparisons to a scene that could have jumped out of a classic "Looney Tunes" episode.
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While the damage to the car appears to be minor - thank goodness - the authorities are treating this act as vandalism, a public safety risk that could lead to potential slapstick shenanigans.
But wait! On the internet, the unknown painter has been rising in popularity like a true folk hero among some circles. The search is ongoing, as is the heated debate about whether this is art, comedy or simply criminal mischief.
As the discussions heated up online, netizens took to social media to voice their thoughts.
Here's a glimpse at what the Instaverse had to say:
@scrubl0r.d wrote: 'That's definitely your fault for hitting that.'
@themaxlevan added: 'Imagine explaining this to your insurance.'
@hometeam870 said: 'Straight outta Looney Tunes 😂😂😂.'
While @j_tix said: 'Honestly, that person who ran into the wall doesn't deserve a licence 😂 like seriously.'
This whole episode rekindles the age-old debate about the thin line between creative expression and public safety.
While some folks argue it's a reckless act that could've ended far worse, others celebrate it as an immaculate satire of the cartoon world's logic.
At this rate, it seems like the Road Runner may have some serious competition - on the roads, at least.
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