Prosecutors in Utah have filed homicide charges against a Southern California woman who they say was viewing pornographic videos on her smartphone just moments before causing a fatal multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 15 this past summer. The incident, which occurred in Juab County south of Salt Lake City, claimed the life of a 66-year-old local resident known for his community involvement.
Christine Chao, 44, of Rosemead, California, was formally charged this week with automobile homicide involving a text message or email. According to charging documents filed in Juab County Justice Court, the collision took place around 2 p.m. on June 12. Investigators determined that Chao was driving a blue Toyota Matrix southbound through a section of the highway where traffic had slowed significantly due to an active construction project.
Despite the congestion, Chao allegedly failed to decelerate, slamming into the back of a Mazda 3. The force of the initial impact propelled the Mazda into a Buick Enclave directly ahead of it. Law enforcement officials who processed the scene noted a significant piece of evidence: there were no visible brake marks on the pavement. The absence of skid marks suggested that Chao never attempted to stop or swerve before the impact occurred.
While Chao reportedly admitted to officers at the scene that she was responsible for the accident, she was not arrested immediately. A Utah Highway Patrol spokesperson confirmed that she was permitted to leave while authorities conducted a thorough investigation. The breakthrough in the case came after police obtained a search warrant for Chao’s smartphone. Digital forensic analysis revealed that the driver had opened a website commonly used to view pornographic videos less than two minutes before the crash.
The crash resulted in the death of Scott LaVar Lichfield, a 66-year-old resident of Fillmore, Utah. Lichfield was a passenger in the Mazda 3 at the time of the collision. He was transported to a medical facility in critical condition but later died from his injuries. In his community, Lichfield was remembered as a kind and friendly man who was well-known for playing Santa Claus, a role his family said he “loved and adored.”
Chao is scheduled to make her next court appearance on November 17. The case serves as a stark example of the lethal potential of digital distractions, particularly in highway construction zones where driver vigilance is required to navigate sudden changes in traffic speed.
