Man sentenced to 3 years in prison for deadly I664 crash; faces deportation
Jan 14, 2025
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - A man was sentenced to a total of three years in prison on Monday and faces deportation in connection with a deadly crash on I-664 in Chesapeake.
One dead, another charged in connection to I-664 crash
According to a release, 19-year-old Elvis Jamir Cruz was sentenced to six years with three suspended, conditioned on supervised probation and good behavior for three years after release. Cruz will also face deportation proceedings following his release.
On Feb. 19, just before 6 p.m., Cruz was traveling in the southbound lanes of I-664, near South Military Highway, in a red 2008 Pontiac Vibe. As Cruz entered the eastbound lanes of I-264, he weaved in and out of traffic at speeds up to 90 mph, until he eventually struck a 2000 Toyota, driven by 19-year-old Lauren Ni'Kole Leonard.
This caused both cars to spin and strike a guardrail. Cruz's car flipped, coming to a stop on its roof, while Leonard's car crashed through the guardrail. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
In September, Cruz pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
Man involved in fatal I-664 crash pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter
During the sentencing, Leonard's mother, brother, two aunts and best friend testified on behalf of her, saying that she was a Dean's List student at Old Dominion University at the time of her death.
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