Photo: Arizona Department of Public Safety
A truck driver who caused a fatal collision while watching TikTok videos has been sentenced to 22-and-a-half years in prison. Danny Glen Tiner, 38, was charged with five counts of negligent homicide after the tragic accident that took five lives in Arizona. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) confirmed the sentence in a news release on August 19, noting that Tiner received 4.5 years for each victim he killed.
The incident occurred on January 12, 2023, when Tiner was driving a semi-truck eastbound on Interstate 10 near Wildhorse Pass Boulevard in Chandler. Failing to notice the stopped traffic ahead, Tiner’s truck caused a six-vehicle collision, resulting in a fiery crash that claimed five lives. The victims were later identified as Ryan Gooding, Andrew Standifird, Jerardo Vazquez, Willis Thompson, and Gilberto Franco.
According to the MCAO, “GPS data showed Tiner’s truck was driving 68 mph in a 55-mph construction zone. After failing to yield to stopped traffic, the defendant caused a six-vehicle collision. Some of the vehicles, including two semi-trucks, caught on fire. Five people died at the scene of the crash.” The investigation revealed that Tiner had been watching TikTok videos just seconds before the collision.
Tiner was arrested on June 29, 2023, facing charges that included five counts of manslaughter, four counts of endangerment, and one count of tampering with evidence. He eventually pleaded guilty to five counts of negligent homicide in June 2024.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, who announced Tiner’s sentencing, emphasized the recklessness of his actions: “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.” She added, “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.”
The Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) noted that this case marks the first time in the state’s history that a driver has been convicted of causing a fatal collision due to distraction by a social media application. “Troopers initially suspected driver distraction as a possible factor in the collision,” the AZDPS stated in their release.
Reflecting on the tragic event, AZDPS Sergeant Smith remarked, “This tragedy was entirely preventable. Don’t risk lives — put your phone away and give driving your full attention.” The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of distracted driving and the devastating consequences it can have on innocent lives.
