Driver Charged in Fatal Feb. 8 Crash

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Staff Report —
Justin Soeum, 27, of New Hampshire, also known as Justin Laferriere, was discharged Feb. 14 from Sentara Hospital, in Norfolk, Va., and was subsequently arrested on charges related to a Feb. 8 crash that killed 44-year-old Angela Marie Kellam.
Soeum has been charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of DUI maiming, one count of second offense DUI with elevated blood-alcohol content, and one count reckless driving. Soeum received no bond.
State Police reported last week that preliminary investigations reveal that a 2021 Toyota Camry driven by Soeum was traveling at a high rate of speed in the southbound lanes of U.S. Route 13.
“Soeum lost control of his vehicle, ran off the roadway and struck a 2013 Chrysler 200 head-on, causing the Chrysler to flip into the southbound lanes,” said State Police spokesperson Sgt. Michelle Anaya in a press release.
Kellam, the driver of the Chrysler 200, died upon impact. Soeum’s Camry became fully engulfed in flames after impact. Soeum was pulled out by citizens and flown to Norfolk General Hospital.
After the initial crash, the driver of a 2003 Yamaha motorcycle, traveling in the southbound lanes, laid his motorcycle down (intentionally sliding low on the motorcycle to stop) and struck the Chrysler. Two other motorcyclists traveling in the southbound lanes laid their motorcycles down but did not strike any other vehicles.
The three motorcyclists all suffered injuries that were not life-threatening and were transported to Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital, Anaya said.
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