Driver Distracted By YouTube Videos Crashes Into CHP Vehicle At Separate Crash Scene

A California motorist allegedly admitted being distracted by watching YouTube videos when he drove straight into the scene of a previous accident last week, striking a California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicle.

The CHP Redwood City field office said officers responding to a three-vehicle crash in San Mateo last week “avoided something that could’ve ended in tragedy.”

At the crash scene in the right lanes of US-101 northbound, officers set up road flares to alert other motorists to avoid the area where personnel were working to clear road. Despite the clear presence of flares and emergency vehicles, a white pickup truck drove straight into the flare pattern and struck the rear of a CHP patrol vehicle.

A video shared by CHP shows an officer standing next to the patrol vehicle “was alert enough to get out of the way.”

“Thankfully our officers had great officer safety awareness and were watching oncoming traffic,” CHP said.

Officers on the scene checked on the driver, who was uninjured, and no other injuries were reported. The driver allegedly told officers he was “changing YouTube videos on his phone” and didn’t see the flares or emergency lights.

“Distracted Driving is dangerous. Taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds can have serious consequences,” CHP said. “Your message can wait. A life cannot.”