Shocking body camera footage reveals the devastating aftermath of a six-car pileup in Chandler, Arizona, caused by a semi-truck driver’s fatal TikTok distraction. The January 12, 2023, incident unfolded as Danny Tiner, an experienced truck driver, was behind the wheel of a garbage-hauling semi-tractor trailer.
First responders at the scene of the accident. The mangled wreckage of the vehicles involved is visible.
Entering a construction zone with a reduced speed limit of 55 mph, Tiner was traveling at 68 mph when he plowed into standstill traffic. The impact, captured on a witness’s dashcam, sent vehicles hurtling forward, sandwiching them between Tiner’s truck and another semi that had come to a complete stop.
Bodycam footage of the accident scene, showing the mangled remains of vehicles involved
As first responders arrived at the chaotic scene, the magnitude of the devastation became horrifyingly clear. A mangled SUV, crushed beyond recognition, was barely visible amidst the wreckage. The air was thick with smoke and the stench of gasoline, punctuated by the frantic shouts of first responders and the gut-wrenching cries of witnesses.
Aftermath of the accident. The crushed remains of the SUV are barely visible amidst the wreckage.
Tiner, dazed and disoriented, emerged from his wrecked semi, his initial response captured on bodycam footage. “I looked down real quick, looked up and they were all right there,” he stammered, his voice trembling with shock. “I slammed on my brakes, but…”
The investigation that followed meticulously pieced together the events leading up to the crash. Data from Tiner’s truck’s electronic logging device (ELD) revealed a pattern of speeding. Furthermore, investigators discovered that Tiner had been active on TikTok moments before the impact.
Bodycam footage of the truck driver, Danny Tiner, being questioned by first responders
In the hours following the crash, as investigators interviewed witnesses and examined evidence, Tiner maintained that he had merely glanced down at his tablet after receiving a notification. He insisted that he had been driving responsibly, with his foot hovering over the brake, a habit he attributed to his years of experience on the road.
However, as the investigation deepened, Tiner’s story began to unravel. Conflicting statements emerged, with Tiner initially claiming to have looked down to check a notification, then later stating that he had been scrolling through his tablet.
The investigation culminated in Tiner’s arrest in June 2023. Charged with five counts of negligent homicide, he eventually pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a 22-and-a-half-year prison sentence, a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of distracted driving.
This tragedy serves as a sobering reminder that even a momentary lapse in judgment can have irreversible and tragic consequences. The pervasive nature of smartphones and social media in modern life demands heightened vigilance, particularly when behind the wheel. It’s a stark reminder that no notification, no message, no video is worth risking a life.
