WOMAN ACCUSED OF WATCHING PORN BEFORE FATAL UTAH CRASH THAT KILLED A 66-YEAR-OLD GRANDFATHER

A moment of distraction allegedly turned a routine drive into a deadly tragedy. A California woman is facing a felony charge after investigators say she accessed a pornography website on her phone less than two minutes before a three-vehicle crash that claimed the life of an innocent passenger in Utah.

Christine Chao, 44, of Rosemead, California, was charged with automobile homicide following the June 12, 2026, collision on Interstate 15 near Levan, Utah, according to court documents reported by KSL.

Traffic had slowed near a construction zone when Chao’s SUV allegedly slammed into a white sedan ahead of her. The impact pushed the sedan into another SUV, sending all three vehicles off the highway.

The consequences were devastating. Scott LaVar Lichfield, 66, who was riding as a passenger in one of the vehicles, suffered a fatal head injury. He was later pronounced dead after being transported for medical treatment.

Investigators say Chao acknowledged responsibility for the crash when officers arrived. They also reported finding no visible tire marks suggesting that she had attempted to brake before the collision.

The investigation took a significant turn when authorities obtained a warrant to examine her cellphone. According to charging documents, investigators discovered that a pornography website had been accessed less than two minutes before the crash.

Chao now faces a second-degree felony charge in connection with the fatal collision. The allegations have drawn attention to the potentially devastating consequences of distracted driving, particularly when drivers divert their attention from traffic moving unpredictably around construction zones.

For Lichfield’s family, the tragedy represents a heartbreaking loss. His obituary described a devoted husband, father and grandfather who cherished spending time with his children and grandchildren. He had reportedly celebrated his 39th wedding anniversary with his wife just one day before the crash.

What began as an ordinary journey ended in a family’s unimaginable grief. As the legal proceedings move forward, the case serves as a sobering reminder that even a few seconds of inattention behind the wheel can have irreversible consequences.

Chao has been charged, and the allegations have yet to be resolved in court.

SOURCES: New York Post