Social media star Tynesha McCarty-Wroten, better known online as Tea Tyme, is facing serious legal trouble after authorities say she allegedly struck and killed a pedestrian while livestreaming her drive through a Chicago suburb in November. Now, the shocking incident has left the internet buzzing, with many questioning the role of livestreaming in real-time tragedies.
RELATED: Livestreams Gone Wrong: Social Media Calls Out Dangerous Trend After Fatal Crash | TSR Investigates
TikTok Livestream Leads To Arrest In Fatal Hit-And-Run
According to the Zion Police Department, Tynesha McCarty-Wroten was arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 23, in connection with the death of 59-year-old Darren Lucas, who was walking home from his grocery store shift in Zion, Illinois, on Nov. 3. Authorities say numerous tips from the public led investigators to a TikTok video showing McCarty-Wroten livestreaming at the time of the crash. Forensic analysis confirmed the video’s timestamp matched the time of the fatal incident.
Video Shows Moment Tea Tyme Allegedly Struck Victim
The viral screen recording allegedly captures McCarty-Wroten speaking into her phone just before a loud thump. According to the video, “F—, f—, f— … I just hit somebody,” the driver reportedly says, as a passenger asks what happened. The TikTok account associated with the video was later made private, and the user biography, noting Zion, Illinois, was deleted.
Furthermore, the Lake County State Attorney’s Office has charged McCarty-Wroten with reckless homicide and aggravated use of an electronic communication device. Police said she was arrested almost immediately after a warrant was issued. It was even noted that she had been seen attempting to leave her home with packed bags. Additionally, authorities confirmed an 8-year-old minor was in the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Tragic Crash Sparks Livestream Accountability Debate
Details of the case reveal that Lucas was crossing an intersection when McCarty-Wroten’s vehicle struck him. Despite her claims to police that she thought she had a green light, investigators allege the car ran a red light near the speed limit and made no attempt to slow or avoid the impact. First responders rushed Lucas to Vista Medical Center, where doctors pronounced him dead.
The controversy surrounding Tea Tyme didn’t end there. Reports say she hosted another livestream just days after Lucas’ death, asking followers for donations to take a “mental leave” from content creation, sparking widespread outrage across social media and adding fuel to the ongoing debate about responsibility and accountability in the age of live-streamed content.
