Illinois Woman Charged After Fatal Crash While Livestreaming on TikTok
Written by Nour Abdelkader
Police in the US state of Illinois have filed criminal charges against a woman accused of causing a fatal hit-and-run while livestreaming on TikTok, in an incident that has reignited debate over the dangers of smartphone use while driving.
According to media reports, the Zion Police Department charged Tenisha McCarty-Rotun, known on TikTok as Tea Tyme, with two felony counts: involuntary manslaughter due to negligence and aggravated use of a communications device resulting in death.
Video footage that circulated widely on TikTok shows McCarty-Rotun speaking to her phone during a live broadcast moments before a loud impact is heard, according to a report by TechCrunch cited by Al Arabiya Business.
In the clip, a child can be heard asking, “What was that?” to which she responds, “I hit someone.”
Surveillance camera footage later revealed that the vehicle entered an intersection while the traffic light was red, without any visible attempt by the driver to slow down or change direction. The crash struck a pedestrian identified as Darren Lucas, who was transported to hospital and later pronounced dead.
McCarty-Rotun’s attorney told The New York Times that the evidence would show the incident was an unintentional accident caused by negligence, not a deliberate or reckless act, stressing that his client did not intend to cause harm.
The case has once again drawn attention to the growing risks of using smartphones and social media while driving, fueling renewed calls for stricter laws and enforcement to curb distracted driving and prevent similar tragedies.
