Nebraska emergency responders were notified at 2:14 a.m. Sunday, when a car crashed into a tree, immediately claiming the lives of five out of the six passengers. One of them, a 24-year-old female, was rushed to a hospital after sustaining life-threatening injuries. Unfortunately, she was not able to make it.
According to Assistant Police Chief Michon Morrow, it was the “worst crash in Lincoln in recent memory.” They found the vehicle, a black Honda Accord, in horrible condition when they arrived.
First responders did not need a call from the neighborhood witnesses. Of note, the new Apple iPhone 14 has a “Crash Detection” feature. Its new G-force accelerometer can help detect vehicle accelerations or decelerations 256 times the force of gravity. These speeds may lead to possible crashes. The phone then calls 911 to alert operators about what happened. It can also alert the owner’s emergency contacts.
According to Apple’s website. the device “feels, hears and measures a crash,” by sudden speed shifts and cabin pressure changes.
One of the passengers had the device with them at the time of the accident. Responders rushed to the scene at 2:16 a.m., when the owner did not answer the return call.
It was confirmed that one 21-year-old, two 22-year-olds, one 23-year-old, and a 26-year-old, all male, died immediately after the fatal crash.
The police are still investigating the accident. Officer Morrow shared that they are considering alcohol, speed, and possible distractions that may have caused the crash and that they need time to look into matters carefully.
A neighbor tried to help by attempting to break the back window of the vehicle, but the engine caught on fire. He tried to put it out with a garden hose, with the help of another neighbor, until firefighters reached the scene.
The Apple iPhone’s new feature couldn’t help the unfortunate young victims of the Lincoln, Nebraska crash, but hopefully will be useful and life-saving for others in the future.
Of course, one should not be texting on the iPhone 14 while driving.