Teen driver lay dying in car wreckage despite cops getting his iPhone’s automatic 999 ‘crash call’ after tree smash

A TEENAGE driver lay dying in the wreckage of his car despite cops getting an automatic 999 “crash call” from his iPhone after smashing into a tree, a coroner has blasted.

George Dillon, 19, crashed his VW Golf into a tree, triggering his iPhone’s ‘Crash Detection’ feature to automatically call 999.

But police failed to initially attend the crash scene, and George later died in hospital.

George smashed into a large tree on Lee Lane in Romsey after losing control of his car on May 18 last year.

His iPhone immediately dialled emergency services, alerting them to a serious crash with a possible risk to life.

But when the cops called back, the phone went straight to voicemail.

Hampshire Constabulary then did nothing to follow up on the call, according to a Prevention of Future Deaths report released this month.

They didn’t send any officers because they couldn’t hear any distress in the background, and the call didn’t specify an exact location.

This year, an inquest was launched in Winchester on April 24.

Assistant Coroner Henry Charles heard the chilling details and warned cops more needs to be done to understand the technology.

He was told how the control room received the automated call at 10.26pm, but without direct communication or clear evidence of an emergency, police did not attend.

The intelligence team’s attempt to trace the phone’s owner led to dead ends, and it wasn’t until a concerned member of the public called 999 at 10.45pm that any action was taken.

The coroner’s report, released on September 6, highlighted a tragic failure both in the understanding of new technology and in police training.

Mr. Charles expressed deep concern that the police were unprepared to handle such automated emergency calls.

He wrote in his Prevention of Future Deaths report that the lack of a clear and prompt response to the iPhone’s alert was a serious issue that needs addressing.

Mr Charles said: “The evidence showed that false alarms from electronic devices are frequent, and locations provided are often inaccurate.

“However, the iPhone’s serious crash detection feature was new at the time and required a better understanding and response strategy”.

COPS FACE SCRUTINY

Introduced in 2022, Apple’s crash detection feature aims to automatically call emergency services if it detects a severe car crash.

But, as this case tragically shows, the system’s potential to save lives can be undermined if emergency services are not equipped to handle it effectively.

The coroner has now called for a review of training and procedures within Hampshire Constabulary and other forces to ensure these automated emergency calls are taken seriously.

Mr Charles has urged the police to improve their handling of automated crash calls so it doesn’t happen again.

It comes after figures were released showing police ignored more than half of all vandalism cases in England and Wales last year.

Meanwhile, in another horror crash, a teen girl was recently crushed to death under a car after being flung from a faulty passenger door when a drug-driver made a dangerous turn.

What is the Crash Call Feature on iPhones?

What is Crash Detection?
If you own an iPhone 14 or later, Apple’s Crash Detection feature could be a lifesaver. Designed to automatically connect you with emergency services and notify your emergency contacts if a severe car crash is detected, it aims to ensure help reaches you as quickly as possible.

How Crash Detection Works
When your iPhone senses a serious car accident, it first displays an alert. If you don’t respond within 20 seconds, the device automatically dials emergency services. It also plays an audio message for the operators, detailing the crash and providing your exact location using latitude and longitude coordinates. This helps first responders find you even if you can’t speak.

Crash Detection won’t interfere with any emergency calls you might have already made manually. If you’re in a severe crash and out of cellular or Wi-Fi range, your iPhone will attempt to use Emergency SOS via satellite to reach help, provided it’s available in your area.