Victims of Byberry Road Fiery Crash Mourned

Authorities are still investigating what caused 26-year-old Laura Stevens, of Philadelphia, to lose control of her Chrystler 300, striking a minivan and at 3150 Byberry Road in the Hatboro section of Upper Moreland Township early Tuesday morning.

Stevens and her passenger, Wayne Foulke, 27, of Philadelphia, were killed in the accident, which left a family of five homeless.

Friends, family and co-workers of both Stevens and Foulke began to assemble at the scene of the deadly accident Wednesday evening, leaving notes, photos, stuffed animals and lit candles to remember the two, who were described by Angel English as “best friends.”

“They were our family. Yesterday, we lost two members of our family," Fred Barksdale told the group that came out to mourn the loss.

“She had a smile that could light up a room," friend Tara Gontek said. "If you were around her, you were happy." 

Upper Moreland Police Chief Thomas Nestel confirms that the two attended the Philadelphia Fourth of July celebrations on the Ben Franklin Parkway just hours earlier.

English said that Foulke worked on the set up of the Parkway event, and Stevens came down to see him and hangout during the show.

What happened between when the fireworks show ended and the crash, which happened around 1:45 a.m. Tuesday, was not known to friends and has not yet been released by authorities.

Identification of the two victims was difficult because their bodies were so badly burnt in the fire, which was caused when one of the vehicles' gas tanks ruptured in the crash, authorities said Tuesday.

“Detectives spoke to family members of the male and obtained dental records and tattoo identification information, which assisted in the positive ID,” Nestel said.

Nestel told Patch a set of ornamental dog tags with the female victim’s name on them was discovered at the scene.

“Due to the fire, the license tag suffered severe damage, and two of the numbers were gone. Additionally, the easily accessible vehicle identification numbers were destroyed in the fire," Nestel said. "One of the department's community service representatives ran a check of every possible combination of numbers looking for one that was registered somewhere in the area and to a Chrysler. Unfortunately, the tag that was on the vehicle did not belong to that vehicle, and none of the tag combinations fit a Chrysler.” 

Along with the name on the dog tags and the remaining numbers on the plate, police matched it to a Ford owned by the female victim, Nestel said.

The chief added that when investigators talked to the victim’s mother, she knew her daughter had been at the Center City Philadelphia Fourth of July celebrations with Foulke. She told police her daughter had never returned home.

“All possibilities are being considered,” said Nestel in regards to the cause of the crash.

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