Car shell suspended on rock face above British Columbia highway in apparent prank

SQUAMISH, British Columbia (AP) — Authorities in British Columbia urged people to stay away from a rock face above a highway in the Canadian province where a red Volkswagen Beetle shell was suspended in an apparent prank by engineering students.

BC Parks was working to remove the Beetle and expects to do so within the week, the province's Environment Ministry said in a statement Monday. It said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and park rangers have been asked to investigate.

The car shell appeared on the rock face above Highway 99 in Squamish, British Columbia, last week with a large “E” on its roof, indicating University of British Columbia engineering students were carrying on a tradition of placing Beetle shells in difficult locations.

In 2009, a Beetle fell from the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge, and Vancouver police arrested five students in a failed attempt to suspend it from the span.

A spokesperson for the university did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford said the area around the Stawamus Chief rock formation is a “sacred place” with deep cultural meaning to the Squamish Nation.

He said the area is also popular among hikers and climbers and what “may have felt like an innocent prank” has affected the community.

“This is an area that deserves respect, and that wasn’t the case here,” Hurford said in the statement.

The shell of a Volkswagen Beetle hangs suspended on a cliff above the Sea-to-Sky Highway, in Squamish, British Columbia, Monday, April 6, 2026, after it appeared on the rock face last week with a large "E" on its roof, indicating that University of British Columbia engineering students carried out a long-standing tradition of placing the shell in difficult to reach locations. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

The shell of a Volkswagen Beetle hangs suspended on a cliff above the Sea-to-Sky Highway, in Squamish, British Columbia, Monday, April 6, 2026, after it appeared on the rock face last week with a large "E" on its roof, indicating that University of British Columbia engineering students carried out a long-standing tradition of placing the shell in difficult to reach locations. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

The shell of a Volkswagen Beetle hangs suspended on a cliff above the Sea-to-Sky Highway, in Squamish, British Columbia, Monday, April 6, 2026, after it appeared on the rock face last week with a large "E" on its roof, indicating that University of British Columbia engineering students carried out a long-standing tradition of placing the shell in difficult to reach locations. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

The shell of a Volkswagen Beetle hangs suspended on a cliff above the Sea-to-Sky Highway, in Squamish, British Columbia, Monday, April 6, 2026, after it appeared on the rock face last week with a large "E" on its roof, indicating that University of British Columbia engineering students carried out a long-standing tradition of placing the shell in difficult to reach locations. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

The shell of a Volkswagen Beetle hangs suspended on a cliff above the Sea-to-Sky Highway, in Squamish, British Columbia, Monday, April 6, 2026, after it appeared on the rock face last week with a large "E" on its roof, indicating that University of British Columbia engineering students carried out a long-standing tradition of placing the shell in difficult to reach locations. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

MIAMI (AP) — Elly De La Cruz doubled and singled, Tyler Stephenson homered and four Cincinnati pitchers combined for a shutout as the Reds beat the Miami Marlins 2-0 on Monday night.

Brandon Williamson (1-1) scattered three hits over 6 2/3 innings. After a difficult season debut in which he gave up six runs and six hits against Pittsburgh on March 31, the 28-yeaer-old left-hander struck out four and walked one. He kept the Marlins hitless until Otto López’s two-out single in the fourth.

The Reds, who won their fourth straight, began Monday tied with San Francisco for fewest runs scored in the majors with 26. They scored nine runs in their three-game sweep at Texas over the weekend.

Miami native Sal Stewart drove in Cincinnati’s first run with a single off Marlins starter Janson Junk in the fourth. De La Cruz hit a one-out double and raced home on Stewart’s line drive up the middle.

Stephenson extended the lead with his leadoff homer in the eighth. He drove a slider from Junk over the wall in left for his second homer of the season.

Brock Burke relieved Williamson and struck out Xavier Edwards for the third out in the seventh. Tony Santillan pitched the eighth before Emilio Pagan closed for his fourth save.

Agustin Ramirez tripled with two outs in the sixth, but Williamson fanned Jakob Marsee to end Miami’s only threat.

Junk (0-1) gave up two runs and seven hits in a career-high 7 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out three and walked one.

Edwards went 0 for 3, ending his 12-game hit streak that began with the final three games of last season.

LHP Andrew Abbott (0-1, 3.09) will start for the Reds on Tuesday against Marlins RHP Sandy Alcantara (2-0, 0.00).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz, right, reacts after hitting a double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Marlins pitcher Janson Junk (26) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Cincinnati Reds' TJ Friedl runs after hitting a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brandon Williamson throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Cincinnati Reds' Sal Stewart is out at third during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)