A feature on the newly released Apple iPhone 14 alerted the emergency services to the owner being in a car crash with multiple fatalities in Lincoln, Nebraska.
All six people in the car died in what police have described as ‘the worst crash in Lincoln in recent memory.’
There were no witnesses to the single-car crash. With everyone in the vehicle either dead or incapacitated, a passenger’s cellphone automatically alerted first responders after the car crashed into a tree early on Sunday morning.
Five men traveling in a black Honda Accord all died at the scene of the crash at around 2.15am on Sunday morning. A 24-year-old woman who was in critical condition died later at a nearby hospital.
Six people in their 20s were killed in a car crash in Lincoln, Nebraska on Sunday
Police have described as ‘the worst crash in Lincoln in recent memory’
The five others who lost their lives included the 22-year-old driver together with three passengers aged 21, 23, and two 22-year-olds including a man by the name of Jonathan Koch.
The remainder have not been identified, reports WOWT, as police are working to inform their families.
Although the cause of the crash remains under investigation, police explained how they were called after the iPhone detected it had been in a crash and called first responders automatically when the user didn’t react.
The iPhone 14 features a new sensor with a high-G-force accelerometer that detects when the user has been in a car crash, such as ‘side-impact, rear-end collision, and rollovers.’
The feature, dubbed ‘crash detection,’ only activates when traveling in a vehicle.
Six people died in the crash in Lincoln, Nebraska including 22-year-old Jonathan Koch (pictured left)
The iPhone 14 features a new sensor with a high-G-force accelerometer that detects when the user has been in a car crash, such as ‘side impact, rear end collision and rollovers’
‘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.’
‘I’ve been with this department for 25 years and can’t remember anything as horrible. The cause of this accident is going to take us some time to pin down,’ Morrow added.
‘We are looking at all possibilities, including alcohol, speed or distracted driving.’
So far, investigators have not been able to find witnesses to the crash, which happened near 5600 Block of Randolph Street in Lincoln. The vehicle is believed to have been travelling eastbound when it struck the tree.
The Lincoln Police Department has asked for anyone with additional information or video of the incident to contact the LPD non-emergency number at 402-441-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 402 475-3600.
Writing on Twitter after the crash, Lincoln Police wrote: ‘Lincoln Police fatality investigators are still working to notify family members and collect evidence in a tragic overnight collision at 56th and Randolph Street. Five men were pronounced deceased. A woman was taken to the hospital in life-threatening condition.’
In a later update, the force added: ‘Sadly, the woman who was transported to the hospital has succumbed to the injuries she sustained in the crash. This is the worst crash in Lincoln in recent memory. Our hearts are heavy for the victim’s families.’
The iPhone 14 was released to the US market on September 16, with technology that can detect when users are in a car crash and automatically call emergency services.
This is thanks to a dual-core accelerometer that can detect G-force measurements when vehicles are hit. However, accelerometers are in most smartphones to detect screen orientation, and the car crash detection capability has been available on Google Pixel phones since 2019.
The crash occurred early on Sunday morning in Lincoln Nebraska
Police are still looking for witnesses in the crash but and far say they have no idea as to the cause
