Viewers freak out after Sinclair-owned KMPH-TV, FOX 26, in Fresno, California, posted video (with audio) of a tow truck running a red light, T-boning another car And have stopped coming over it. Due to which a woman died. Worse, the Instagram posts included hashtags like #killed, #dead and #fatal and #caughtoncamera.
The response to the video and hashtag (the hashtag #dead was eventually removed) was consistent across the board, with Instagram users outraged at the station’s total disregard for the victim’s family and friends, who can now “relive the fatal accident and once again.”
The post read, “A woman is now dead after a tow truck driver ran a red light Wednesday morning in North Fresno,” and was followed by the hashtags #fatal #crash #Fresno #towtruck #woman #killed # redlight #caughtoncamera was written in . It also included a link to a YouTube channel dedicated to videos of accidents at the same intersection “which has gained a notorious reputation for being one of the most dangerous intersections in the city.”
TheWrap has reached out to KMPH-TV for comment regarding the video, its hashtag and the backlash, but has not yet received a response.
“What’s with those hashtags? Are you trying to drive traffic to visitors from someone’s death? Like using ‘dead’…?!? What happened to your social media team/manager?” wrote a viewer.
Another viewer said, “A woman is dead, and you post this for all to see? Her poor family.”
“Why would you post this entire video? What is the news value? What is the value to anyone and using the hashtag “killed”??? This is disgusting,” wrote one person.
“I’m not sure what I’m more disappointed about @kmphfox26 The fact that you actually posted a video of the time a poor woman lost her life? The fact that you posted this with sound on? Or the insensitive ass hashtag? wrote another viewer.
Other comments made included:
“Whoever wrote these should be fired. So rude and thoughtless.
“I’ll remove the hashtag. do you really need them? Lots of followers already. I know it’s a habit but omg. Rest his soul. Prayers for his family. They have to be horrible to watch videos. I must be having bad dreams. It can be a mother, sister, aunt, daughter, grandmother, cousin. I know this news gets people’s attention but sometimes things don’t need to be shown. “
“It’s a shame for you to share Fox 26. I can only imagine how her family must be feeling.
“Shame on you @kmphfox26!!!! Adding a hashtag showing the moment a woman was murdered like it’s no big deal. #kmphfox26isdusgusting”
You can see the post of the fatal accident on KMPH-TV’s Instagram page clicking hereBut be careful, it is very annoying.
ftvlive informed earlier on this story.
