Teen’s Life Saved by iPhone Crash Detection Feature
United Gaming – A 16-year-old girl from Pennsylvania owes her life to a feature embedded in her iPhone. What could have ended in tragedy turned into a story of technological heroism, as her phone automatically dialed emergency services after a car crash.
Lindsay Leskovac was driving home late at night when fatigue took over. Her truck veered off course, slamming into a pole and several trees. The impact rendered her unconscious and left her with multiple fractures. With no one around and no ability to call for help herself, her iPhone did what she couldn’t—it contacted 911.
This incident might sound like a tech ad, but it’s a real-life demonstration of how Apple’s Crash Detection can save lives. As soon as the iPhone detected the severe impact, it automatically alerted emergency services. Responders arrived swiftly and were able to extract Lindsay from the wreckage. The feature acted within seconds, bypassing the delay that could have cost her life.
Lindsay’s mother, Laura, was stunned to learn that her daughter’s iPhone had such a feature. Since then, she has urged others to activate Crash Detection, calling it a must-have for every driver, especially teens. Her message is clear: never underestimate what technology can do in moments of crisis.
Crash Detection is available on iPhone 14 and later models running iOS 16 or newer. Users can enable it by navigating to Settings > Emergency SOS and toggling on Call After Severe Crash. For added safety, emergency contacts can be set via the Health app, ensuring loved ones are notified instantly during an accident.
The feature works by using the iPhone’s internal sensors—accelerometers, gyroscopes, and barometers—to detect unusual impacts or movements consistent with a car crash. If it suspects a serious accident, a 10-second countdown begins. If the user doesn’t respond, it automatically calls emergency services and sends location data to registered contacts.
Though the Crash Detection feature is impressive, safety experts continue to emphasize that nothing replaces responsible driving. Avoiding drowsy driving, staying focused, and following traffic laws are still the most effective ways to prevent accidents.
