Christine Chao has been charged with automobile homicide after police say she caused a fatal pileup while distracted by pornography on her phone.
Chao, 44, of Rosemead, California, was formally charged Tuesday for the June 12 crash on Interstate 15 in Utah, according to charging documents. The collision occurred in a construction zone where traffic had slowed to a near standstill.
Scott LaVar Lichfield, 66, died from a fatal head injury sustained while riding in the backseat of one of the struck vehicles. He left behind a family that remembered him as a devoted husband, grandfather, and Sunday school teacher.
“It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of our sweet Husband, Dad, Papa (Pop Pop), Uncle, Cousin, Nephew,” his obituary reads.
“He was one very loved gentle soul.”
The wreck unfolded when Chao’s blue SUV slammed into a white sedan without braking, according to police reports. The impact propelled the sedan into another SUV ahead of it, sending all three vehicles careening off the roadway.
“Two vehicles were traveling at a slower speed when a vehicle driven by the defendant, Christine Chao, struck the rearmost vehicle, causing it to crash into the vehicle ahead of it,” the charging documents state.
Responding officers found no skid marks on the pavement, indicating Chao never attempted to slow her vehicle before impact. When questioned at the scene, she reportedly admitted fault to officers investigating the crash.
A search of her phone revealed she had accessed a pornographic website less than two minutes before the collision, police said.
Lichfield’s obituary highlighted his deep commitment to his church community and his work with children. “Scott served faithfully in many callings as a Sunday School Teacher to a couple of crowds of boys and a lone girl. He loved those kids,” the tribute continued.
“Nursery leader, Elders Quorum Teacher, Scout Leader (a calling that he completely loved with all his heart), and Financial Clerk. This calling was his complete heart. He loved serving among all these good men. He served as a financial clerk in three different wards.”
The three-car chain-reaction crash occurred during active highway construction that had reduced traffic flow to crawl speeds, leaving the stopped vehicles vulnerable to inattentive drivers approaching from behind. Lichfield was the sole fatality in the incident.
Chao faces automobile homicide charges in Utah, where the offense carries severe penalties for drivers whose negligence results in death. The case highlights the deadly consequences of phone distraction behind the wheel, particularly in construction zones where stopped traffic creates sudden hazards.