HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) – A Newport News man died following a crash on I-64 in Hampton late Friday evening.
Per Sgt. Michelle Anaya of the Virginia State Police, the crash happened after a state trooper witnessed a vehicle going at a high rate of speed eastbound on I-64 with no headlights.
As the trooper activated their emergency lights and siren, the driver reportedly accelerated in speed and refused to stop.
Anaya says the driver, later identified as 23-year-old Newport News resident Robert Lee Ham II, continued eastbound, going over 100 mph, when he lost control of the vehicle as he attempted to exit the Mallory Street ramp.
The vehicle overturned several times, ejecting a passenger inside the vehicle, and killing Ham, Anaya said.
The passenger suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
Family members have been notified, police say.
Ham was reportedly not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. It’s unclear at this time if alcohol was a contributing factor.