A commercial vehicle driver, Danny G. Tiner, has been sentenced to 22.5 years in prison in connection with a Jan. 12, 2023, fatal collision on Interstate 10 in Chandler which resulted in the deaths of five people.
Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) troopers initially suspected driver distraction as a possible factor in the collision. Following months of investigation, troopers determined Tiner was traveling 68 mph in the posted 55-mph construction zone and was actively using the TikTok application on his cell phone at the time of the collision. Troopers arrested Tiner at his home on June 29, 2023, on charges including five counts of manslaughter, four counts of endangerment and one count of tampering with evidence.
In June of 2024, Tiner pleaded guilty to five counts of negligent homicide.
This marks the first case in AZDPS history in which a driver has been convicted of causing a fatal collision while distracted by a social media application.
“As a driver, you have an obligation to pay attention to the road. To choose to access social media while driving, placing the lives of others on the line, is reckless,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “Five families are living through the pain of losing a loved one. While the justice system can never relieve that pain, it can hold the person responsible accountable. We achieved that goal.
“Troopers and our law enforcement partners worked tirelessly to ensure a thorough investigation for the victims and their families,” said AZDPS Sergeant Smith. “This tragedy was entirely preventable. Don’t risk lives – put your phone away and give driving your full attention.”