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Report: Driver sued over using Snapchat now faces charges

The teen is facing four charges, including a felony.
By Matt Kempner
June 1, 2016

A metro Atlanta teenager now faces charges tied to a crash that witnesses said occurred after she tried to use social media to log speeds over 100 miles per hour, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Christal McGee has been charged in Clayton County with reckless driving, super speeder, driving too fast for conditions and serious injury by vehicle, according to Channel 2. The accident occurred in September, but police initially didn't file charges.

The case garnered national attention over allegations that McGee was using Snapchat's speed filter, which allows the app's more than 100 million users – most of them teens and young adults — to share photos and videos labeled with the speed they are moving. Both McGee and Snapchat are being sued by a driver injured when his vehicle was struck by the car the teen was driving.

The case sparks questions about the line between personal and corporate responsibility and highlights a new risk to app makers. Find out more in my earlier Unofficial Business column on myAJC.com.

About the Author

Matt Kempner is an award-winning journalist who seeks out intriguing twists about people and subjects beyond what the AJC might typically cover. A former columnist and editor, his past assignments have included business investigations, energy, the economy, entrepreneurs, big business, consumer spending, politics, government and the environment.

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