Danny G. Tiner, 36, was arrested at his home on multiple charges related to the January crash, including five counts of manslaughter
A tractor-trailer driver was distracted and using TikTok on his cell phone seconds before causing a Phoenix-area freeway collision that killed five people, authorities said.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety announced that 36-year-old Danny G. Tiner was arrested Thursday at his home on multiple charges related to the January crash, including five counts of manslaughter.
An investigation revealed that Tiner was driving 68 mph in a 55 mph construction zone and was actively using the social media app TikTok on his cell phone just before the fatal crash.
Initially, Tiner told police he received a message on an electronic work tablet and he acknowledged it.
Tiner said when he looked back up, traffic was stopped and he couldn’t stop his trailer in time to avoid a collision.
Five people died in the fiery horror crash after two semi trucks and two other vehicles collided on Interstate 10 in Phoenix, Arizona, in January
It took almost 30 minutes to put out the fire and nearly a dozen police officers remained on the scene throughout the morning
On the morning of January 12, state troopers responded to the fiery chain reaction crash on Interstate 10 in Chandler that involved six cars.
Tiner’s tractor-trailer collided with a passenger car, pushing it into another semi-trailer and two other cars.
Most of the victims were trapped in burning vehicles, as the resulting blaze from the crash lasted about two hours.
The force with which Tiner rammed the two cars in front of him from behind was so strong that they got stuck in the back of a second commercial truck.
The second utility vehicle was pushed forward and struck two additional vehicles.
The two passenger cars crushed between the semi trucks ignited and burst into flames, killing the occupants.
The fire spread to Tiner’s commercial truck tractor and trailer and to the enclosed trailer of the second commercial truck.
The horrific accident closed the highway for eleven hours.
The victims were identified as Gilberto Franco, Ryan Gooding, Andrew Standifird, Willis Thompson and Jerardo Vazquez.
This fire was so severe that families were asked to provide dental records in order for the identification of their loved ones to take place.
“I just went into shock. Then I fainted,” said Tondra Doss, willis thompson’widow of AZFamily, who mourns the loss of her husband. ‘It’s so hard for me. I swear it’s so hard for me,” Doss said, speaking of when she learned of his death.
Willis was a truly wonderful person who was the kindest soul. He had a heart of gold and loved his family dearly,” a family friend wrote in tribute.
Doss said the family would file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver and the trucking company.
Tiner’s semi-trailer crashed into a passenger car and pushed it into another semi-trailer and two other cars, causing them all to catch fire
Footage from traffic cameras in the area showed a fiery scene with a wrecked truck and several passenger cars
An aerial view of the scene showed a semi truck engulfed in flames, with only the charred remains of vehicles remaining
Andrew Standifird28, has just recovered from addiction problems when his life was cut short by the crash.
The married father of three was a “beloved son and husband.” “Andrew was a very charismatic, loving, giving, just a very sociable person,” Sarah Standifird, Andrew’s mother, told 12News.
Ryan Gooding was preparing to marry the love of his life, Nikki Johnson, when he was tragically killed in the crash.
Every day he wore his engagement ring and said, “How did I get you?” every day. He would say, “I can’t believe you want to marry me.” And then he’d say, “You’ll be mine forever,” Johnson recalled 12News in a tearful interview.
Gilbert Franco, 28, died in the crash. “Anyone who knew my brother knew what a loving and beautiful soul he was. He loved to make everyone laugh, he certainly had a heart of gold,” his sister, Yesenia Almanza, told KVOA.
‘Look, there are lives there. The sons, mothers, daughters, children of men,’ she cried.
Gerardo Vasquez was described as “a loving husband and father” who worked as a landscape gardener before his death.
“He was a hard worker who enjoyed his career as a landscaper and beautified the world around him with the work of his hands and the love in his heart,” said his daughter Yvonne Rodriguez Vasquez.
Willis Thompson, left, was killed in the accident in January. On the photo with wife Tondra Doss
Thompson lost his life in the fiery crash. He had several children and was married
Ryan Gooding, left, was killed. He is pictured with fiancé Nikki Johnson, right. The couple had been together for ten years and shared a son
Gooding is survived by a 9-year-old son, Apollo, to whom he was reportedly “devoted.”
Gilberto Franco had just celebrated his 28th birthday when he died in the crash
Gilberto Franco, 28, is pictured next to his mother in a photo from his obituary
Andrew Standifird was a 28-year-old father of three and was described as a beloved son and husband at the time of his untimely death
“Andrew was a very charismatic, loving, giving, just a very sociable person,” said Sarah Standifird, Andrew’s mother
Jerardo Vasquez was described as a loving husband and father who worked as a landscape gardener
Vasquez was said to be “the sole breadwinner of his household.” He did everything he could to make sure our family was always taken care of,” his daughter said in tribute to her father
Tiner was notified of an investigation and gave his cell phone to police so that investigators could conduct a forensic examination of his digital devices with help from the FBI.
He was also booked on four counts of threat and one charge of tampering with physical evidence.
Troopers said they long suspected driver distraction was a possible factor in the fatal collision.
“This road is a straight road. You can see for miles, and traffic wasn’t so busy back then that you couldn’t see ahead, and it was dark when it happened, so you have brake lights that you should have been able to see for a long time,” said DPS- Captain Keith Gephert in January.
It was not immediately known on Friday whether Tiner had found a lawyer who could speak for him.
Tiner remains in custody at the Maricopa County Jail.