A woman in Utah is facing serious charges after investigators discovered what she was allegedly doing on her phone moments before a deadly accident.
A California woman has been charged with automobile homicide after allegedly using her phone to access pornography moments before causing a three-vehicle crash that killed a man in Utah.
Christine Chao, a 44-year-old woman of Rosemead, California, was charged on October 20, in connection with the fatal accident that occurred on Interstate 15 near Levan, Utah, on June 12, 2026.
Deadly Crash Occurred Near Construction Zone
According to local outlet KSL, Chao was driving a blue SUV northbound on I-15 when she approached two vehicles that had slowed down because of construction work in the area. She then crashed into the back of a slower-moving vehicle, pushing it into another vehicle ahead.
According to the charging documents: "Two vehicles were traveling at a slower speed when a vehicle driven by the defendant, Christine Chao, struck the rearmost vehicle, causing it to crash into the vehicle ahead of it."
A passenger in the white sedan, identified as 66-year-old Scott LaVar Lichfield of Fillmore, suffered a serious head injury and later died from their injuries, according to Utah Highway Patrol. Lichfield's obituary mentioned he had celebrated his 39th wedding anniversary the day before the tragic incident.
Investigators noted no visible brake marks on the road, suggesting that Chao had not attempted to slow down before the impact. Chao reportedly admitted to Utah Highway Patrol troopers that "she was at fault" for the collision.
Phone Records Reveal What Happened Before Crash
Authorities seized Chao's cellphone and obtained a search warrant to examine its contents, as part of their investigation. According to court documents, investigators discovered that Chao had accessed a website commonly used to watch pornographic videos less than two minutes before the crash occurred.
However, it has not been conclusively established that Chao was actively watching a video at the exact moment of the collision.
Regardless, the discovery is now a key part of the case against Chao, who now faces a second-degree felony charge related to automobile homicide involving handheld device use. She has not been arrested, but authorities have issued a summons requiring her to appear in court.