A Los Angeles County woman has been charged with automobile homicide in Utah after investigators found that her cellphone accessed a pornography website less than two minutes before a crash that killed a man, according to multiple reports.
Christine Chao, 44, of Rosemead, faces a second-degree felony charge in connection with the June 12 crash on Interstate 15 near Levan, Utah, KSL reported.
According to charging documents obtained by KUTV, Chao was driving on northbound I-15 when she approached two vehicles slowing for construction. Investigators claim she struck the vehicle directly ahead of her, pushing it into another vehicle and sending all three off the roadway.
The crash killed 66-year-old Scott LaVar Lichfield of Fillmore, Utah, who was riding in the back seat of one of the vehicles, KSL reported.
Chao told officers at the scene that she was at fault, according to charging documents cited by ABC 4. Investigators also found no skid marks indicating that she had attempted to brake before the collision.
Troopers seized Chao's cellphone and obtained a search warrant to examine its contents. Investigators found that the phone had accessed pornographic video website less than two minutes before the crash, KSL reported, citing charging documents.
Lichfield had celebrated his 39th wedding anniversary with his wife the day before the crash, according to an obituary cited by KSL. He was a father of five who loved spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Chao has not been arrested in connection with the case. Instead, she was issued a summons to appear in court, ABC 4 reported.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Los Angeles Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.