Blackwood Driver Killed Man, Injured 4 Others In Wrong-Way, DWI Crash: Prosecutor

SOMERDALE, NJ — A Blackwood driver was intoxicated during a wrong-way crash that killed a man and hospitalized four others Thursday night in Somerdale, authorities said.

Gerald Norum, 51, crossed the roadway's double-yellow line when he hit another vehicle, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office (CCPO). The collision killed Walter Lopez-Arevalo, 39, of Lindenwold, at the scene, officials said.

Lopez-Arevalo was in the vehicle with four others, all of whom were taken to Cooper University Hospital. The CCPO identified the hospitalized victims as a 34-year-old woman, who was driving, and three passengers: a 17-year-old boy, a 14-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy.

All of the victims are Lindenwold residents.

Somerdale police located the crash just before midnight at the intersection of the White Horse Pike and Cedar Avenue. Norum was traveling westbound on the White Horse Pike when he crossed the double-yellow line and hit the other vehicle, which was moving eastbound, the CCPO said.

Norum was arrested at the scene for driving while intoxicated. Following an investigation, he was also charged with second-degree death by auto (one count), third-degree assault by auto (one count) and fourth-degree assault by auto (three counts). He's in Cooper University Hospital for treatment as of late Friday afternoon, according to the CCPO.

Anyone with information on this case can contact Det. Samuel Funches of the CCPO's Crash Response Investigations Team at 856-397-4000 and Det. Howard Dawson of the Somerdale Police Department at 856-428-6324 ext. 2900. Tips can also be sent online to CAMDEN.TIPS.