A passenger’s new iPhone 14 automatically alerted first responders after their car hit a tree early Sunday morning, in a crash that killed all six of the young adult passengers, according to authorities.
The crash, which occurred around 2:15 a.m. in Lincoln, Nebraska, left five men dead at the scene. A 24-year-old woman was taken in critical condition to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
The victims include the driver, a 22-year-old male, a 21-year-old, 23-year-old, and 23-year-old and two 22-year-olds, according to The Huffington Post. None of the victims have been publicly named as of Tuesday.
Authorities Call Crash “The Worst In Lincoln In Recent Memory” After Being Alerted By iPhone
The crash still remains under investigation, and authorities added that they were alerted to the crash after one of the passengers’ iPhones, which sent a signal to first responders, which automatically transmitted a warning after the phone’s owner didn’t respond.
Investigators called the crash “the worst… in Lincoln in recent memory.”
A passenger's iPhone automatically alerted responders to a fatal car crash in Nebraska that was called "the worst crash" in the area in some time. https://t.co/VnvNOY3mkt pic.twitter.com/BEV8R6Mkzu
— AppleInsider (@appleinsider) October 3, 2022
“This is the worst crash in Lincoln in recent memory,” Lincoln Police Assistant Chief Michon Morrow said. “We’ve been trying to think of another accident this bad and we haven’t come up with anything.”
Meanwhile, authorities said they have not found any witnesses as of Tuesday, making it much more difficult to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Investigators Say They Are “Looking At All Possibilities, Including Alcohol, Speed Or Distracted Driving”
Morrow added that they are “looking at all possibilities, including alcohol, speed or distracted driving.”
“The cause of this accident is going to take us some time to pin down,” Morrow said. “We are looking at all possibilities, including alcohol, speed or distracted driving.”
One of the worst car crashes ever in Lincoln, Nebraska kills 6. Emergency services alerted by iPhone 14’s crash detection system. pic.twitter.com/c2Uus2Hml5
— Euro Maestro (@euromaestro) October 4, 2022
The new iPhone 14 crash detection feature that alerted authorities to the crash is initiated after the phone detects an impact, where it then calls 911 automatically when the phone’s owner doesn’t respond.
New iPhone 14 Released Just Last Month, Includes New Emergency Alert Feature
The newest iteration of the iPhone was just released in the U.S. on September 16, and retail for between $799 to $1199 for more pricy models.
Photos of the crash show the car completely totaled, with the roof torn off the top and the door ripped to pieces.
This is a developing story, tune in for updates as victims are identified and the cause of the crash is revealed.
