A truck driver who was using TikTok while causing a deadly crash in Chandler last year has been sentenced to 22.5 years in prison, authorities announced Monday, told Fox 10.
Danny Glen Tiner, 38, was ordered to serve five consecutive sentences of 4.5 years each after pleading guilty in June to five counts of negligent homicide, according to court records. His prison term began last Friday, with credit for 415 days already served in custody.
The tragic incident occurred on January 12, 2024, when Tiner’s tractor-trailer, traveling at 68 mph in a 55 mph construction zone, caused a catastrophic six-vehicle pileup on Interstate 10 near Chandler Boulevard. Prosecutors revealed that GPS data confirmed Tiner’s excessive speed, while digital forensic evidence showed that he was actively using TikTok on his cellphone at the time of the crash.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety reported that five people, who were trapped inside two burning passenger vehicles, lost their lives in the predawn wreck. The pileup occurred when Tiner’s semi-truck slammed into traffic that had been backed up from a previous crash.
Phoenix Fire Department crews worked for two hours to extinguish the blaze, which involved hazardous materials. The fire damaged the vehicles so severely that troopers initially believed there were only three or four vehicles involved. The aftermath led to the closure of I-10 for nearly 11 hours as crews cleared the wreckage and investigators pieced together the tragic sequence of events.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell condemned Tiner’s actions in a press release on Monday, stating, “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. 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.”
Tiner’s sentencing brings some closure to the families affected by the tragedy, but the loss remains profound. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of distracted driving and the devastating consequences that can result from a moment of inattention.