A driver in the UK who was watching TikTok videos at the wheel has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison after a crash that killed a 20-month-old boy.
Hristo Iliev was sentenced on June 11 to 11 years and three months in prison in connection with the death of Finley Baker, who was fatally injured in the March 2025 collision, according to Lincolnshire Police.
Hristo Iliev Accused of Causing Fatal Crash That Killed Finley Baker
Investigators said the crash happened at about 4:45 p.m. on March 19, 2025, as Iliev drove a Volkswagen Passat toward a slow-moving line of traffic at a roundabout. A Kia carrying Finley in the back seat was stopped in the queue when Iliev crashed into the rear of it, police said, forcing the vehicle into another car.
Finley suffered severe injuries in the impact and died two days later. His mother, Chloe Baker, was also badly hurt, suffering serious shoulder injuries that required major reconstructive surgery, police said.
Authorities said tests found no evidence that Iliev had drugs or alcohol in his system. However, phone records revealed that a TikTok video was playing in the moments before the crash.
Police also said the device had been used to access both TikTok and an Apple TV app in the seven minutes leading up to the collision. Evidence indicated that video content had been played and downloaded during that time.
“This collision was due to the dangerous driving of Iliev when he selfishly paid no attention to his driving as he watched videos on his devices,” Detective Sergeant James Perring remarked. “Those actions cost a young toddler his life and seriously injured another, destroying lives in a way which can never be undone.”
Perring added that the incident underscores the dangers of distracted driving.
“This was a wholly preventable collision, and I feel nothing but disappointment for the way he has so pointlessly destroyed lives,” he said. “I would implore anybody thinking of behaving in the same way never to do so.”
Hristo Iliev Pleads Guilty to Dangerous Driving
Investigators concluded that Illiev—who police said had received previous fines for speeding and using his phone while driving—had been solely responsible for the crash.
He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and serious injury by dangerous driving, according to the statement from police.
In addition to the prison sentence, Illiev has been banned from driving for nearly 11 years. He’ll be required to take an extended driving test before his license could be restored, authorities said.
In a victim impact statement, Baker’s mother described her son as her “beautiful baby boy” and said Illiev “stole his whole life” from the family.
“If only we had known his first birthday was the only one we would celebrate we would have filled it with bikes,” she said, per the BBC. “What happened on our journey home is something I will never get over.”
