1 killed, 4 hurt, driver charged in Camden County, NJ, crash

Authorities in Camden County say a man from Blackwood is facing charges following a fatal crash in Somerdale late Thursday night.

Fatal Crash in Somerdale, NJ

The accident happened just after 11:45 at the White Horse Pike and Cedar Avenue.

According to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, 51-year-old Gerard Norum was traveling westbound on the White Horse Pike when he crossed the double yellow line and struck an eastbound vehicle.

That eastbound vehicle was being driven by a 34-year-old woman with 39-year-old Walter Lopez-Arevalo as a passenger along with three other passengers — a 17-year-old male, a 14-year-old female, and a 12-year-old male, all of Lindenwold.

White Horse Pike and Cedar Avenue in Somerdale NJ - Photo: Google Maps

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Lopez-Arevalo was pronounced dead at the scene. The four other occupants of that vehicle were taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden in critical condition.

Driver Charged

Norum was placed under arrest at the scene for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

Following an investigation, Norum was also charged with one count of second-degree death by auto, one count of third-degree assault by auto, and three counts of fourth-degree assault by auto. Norum is currently in Cooper University Hospital for treatment.

Help Somerdale Police

Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to contact Det. Samuel Funches with the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Crash Response Investigations Team at (856) 397-4000 or Det. Howard Dawson with the Somerdale Police Department at (856) 428-6324.