"Rolled Down the Window and Stared..." Masked Man on Highway Revealed as Foreign Teacher

Wearing a Bizarre Mask on a Chinese Highway, Spreading Fear
Viral Video on Social Media Sparks Outcry: "Dangerous Prank" Criticized

A foreign teacher who frightened other drivers by sticking his head out of a car window while wearing a bizarre mask on a Chinese highway has admitted his wrongdoing and issued an apology.

According to the Hong Kong media outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP) on September 12, a video circulated online on August 24 showing a man wearing a horror movie-style mask on the Zhangshan Expressway near Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. The man opened his car window and stared at passing vehicles, sparking controversy.

A man wearing a horror mask on the highway staring at the adjacent vehicle. SCMP

A passenger who filmed the video said, "We didn't know him, but he rolled down his window and stared at us," adding, "I think he did it on purpose." Another witness commented, "I was sitting in the back seat, and the female passenger with me was startled when she saw him." As the video spread on social media, concerns grew among local internet users.

Eventually, the police launched an investigation, judging that the act could affect road safety. The investigation revealed that the man in the mask was a 42-year-old foreign teacher. He works at a school in Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, but his nationality was not disclosed.

The police explained, "The 'mask prank' may have affected road safety," and stated that they issued him a warning. Afterwards, the man reportedly apologized to the person who filmed the video and asked for forgiveness.

Internet users who saw the news criticized his actions, saying, "I could have a heart attack while driving," "This is a really dangerous prank," "This kind of behavior should be banned on highways," "People can lose control out of fear," "The mask is too bizarre," and "Even children wouldn't do such a prank."