A woman was arrested Tuesday on charges that she was driving and livestreaming herself on TikTok when she struck and killed a man last month, police in Zion, Illinois, said.
Tynesha McCarty-Wroten, 43, struck and killed Darren Lucas, 59, on Nov. 3 as he was heading home after finishing his shift at a local grocery store, police said in a statement. Zion is a city of around 25,000 on the shores of Lake Michigan, just south of the Wisconsin border.
McCarty-Wroten told investigators that she thought she had the green light but police said a review of video from nearby businesses showed the light was red when she went through the intersection. She remained at the scene after the incident and cooperated with police but declined to allow investigators to search her cellphone, according to the statement.
An 8-year-old was in the vehicle with her at the time of the crash, police said, adding that both were checked and declined medical assistance afterward.
"In the days following the crash, numerous members of the public reached out to Zion Investigators to inform them of a TikTok video that allegedly showed Ms. McCarty-Wroten live-streaming herself driving at the time of the crash," the statement said.
The video was verified, and she was arrested Tuesday on charges of reckless homicide and aggravated use of an electronic communication device, police said.
McCarty-Wroten was being held without bond Wednesday, according to Lake County Sheriff's Office online jail records.
An attorney listed in court records as representing her did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on her behalf.
Lucas was walking to catch the bus home from work when he was fatally struck in the intersection, NBC Chicago reported in November, citing police.
Sandra Williams, who worked with Lucas at Torres Fresh Market in Zion, told the station that she was heartbroken.
"When I got that news I was devastated, and I’m still devastated," Williams said at the time.
