California driver charged with homicide after fatal Utah crash while viewing porn on phone

Authorities charged Christine Chao, 44, with automobile homicide following a three-vehicle crash on I-15 in Utah on June 12. The incident occurred amid construction that had reduced traffic to a crawl, and investigators determined that Chao’s blue SUV hit the backmost car, causing it to ram into a second vehicle. Police recovered her phone and noted she had opened a porn site less than two minutes before the impact.

The collision sent the three vehicles off the roadway, resulting in the death of 66-year-old passenger Scott LaVar Lichfield, who died from a severe head injury. Officers reported an absence of brake marks, suggesting Chao did not brake. The Rosemead native reportedly admitted fault, and the case is now proceeding through the criminal justice system.