Executive Summary
- A 59-year-old man, Darren Lucas, was killed in a vehicle collision in Zion, Illinois, on November 3.
- Police are actively investigating a viral TikTok video that appears to show the driver livestreaming at the moment of the crash.
- The driver involved remained at the scene, called 911, and is reportedly cooperating with the investigation.
- As of early November, no arrests have been made or charges filed in relation to the incident.
Zion, Illinois – Police are investigating a fatal traffic collision and its potential connection to a viral TikTok video that appears to show a woman livestreaming while driving at the moment of impact. The incident, which occurred on November 3, resulted in the death of 59-year-old Darren Lucas, according to the Zion Police Department.
Details of the Incident
Authorities responded to the crash at an intersection in Zion, a city approximately 50 miles north of Chicago, just before 6 p.m. on November 3. Mr. Lucas was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team is assisting with the investigation and crash reconstruction.
Social Media Video Under Scrutiny
The investigation took a turn after law enforcement was made aware of a video circulating on social media. In a press release, the Zion Police Department stated, “On November 7th the Zion Police Department was made aware of a video that has surfaced on social media related to this incident.” The statement continued, “Investigators are currently following up on investigative leads to verify the validity of the video.” Screen recordings of the livestream reportedly show the content creator speaking before an impact, after which she can be heard saying, “I just hit somebody.” The livestream then ended.
Driver Cooperating with Investigation
Police confirmed that the driver involved, a local woman operating a 2015 Ford Edge, remained at the scene following the collision. She immediately called 911 and has been cooperating with investigators. The victim’s son-in-law, Chris King, told local media, “We hold our loss tighter to our hearts, and will continue to pray for what the driver must be going through.”
Current Status of Investigation
As of November 10, no arrests have been made or charges filed in connection with the crash. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to validate the social media evidence. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.