Minor injuries reported in wake of new Pokemon smartphone game

LOS ANGELES — Beware: Pokemon Go, a new smartphone game based on cute Nintendo characters like Squirtle and Pikachu, can be harmful to your health.

The "augmented reality" game, which layers gameplay onto the physical world, has become the top grossing app in the iPhone app store just days after its Wednesday release in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand.

And players have already reported wiping out in a variety of ways as they wander the real world — eyes glued to their smartphone screens — in search of digital monsters. Twisted ankles, mishaps with revolving doors and walking into trees have been among the painful results.

In Wyoming, a 19-year-old girl discovered a dead body while hunting for Pokemon.

The game has also induced people to post pictures of themselves on social media chasing creatures in all sorts of dangerous situations, like while driving.

While there are no known incidents involving Pokemon Go in Washington, the Seattle Department of Transportation took to Twitter on Friday to remind drivers to keep their eyes on the road.



The humorous graphic was shared by more than one thousand users.