Truck driver was 'watching porn' before fatal crash
A truck driver is accused of watching pornographic videos before a crash that killed a highway worker standing along an motorway.
Tate Doom, 47, from the US state of Minnesota, was charged last week with criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation.
The crash happened last October on Interstate 94 in Rogers and killed 59-year-old construction worker Vernon Hedquist.
According to the complaint, Doom’s semi slammed into a ute and trailer. The trailer then struck Hedquist while flying debris hit his co-worker.
Troopers seized two cellphones from Doom’s truck. Authorities recovered deleted files from a pornographic website.
According to The Star Tribune, the last of the 14 videos Doom was watching started 90 seconds before Doom’s vehicle slammed into the pickup truck and trailer.
State Patrol investigators also determined Doom was speeding.
Doom denied using his cellphone at the time of collision. He is being held on $30,000 bail and is due in court Aug. 12.
- with AP
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