Car crash leads to homicide charge in Sullivan County

A Kingsport man is charged in a Thursday morning homicide after a woman who had been struck by a vehicle was found dead in his front yard.

Kevin Justus, 54, reportedly crashed the vehicle at a residence on Potato Hill Road in the Sullivan Gardens area just after 5:30 am and was taken into custody by Kingsport police after he began resisting arrest.

When police arrived at a house on Glen Alpine Road to inform the registered car owner of the crash, they found the body of 59-year-old Lori Lane in the yard of the residence. Following an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office crash reconstruction team, Justus was charged with the first degree murder of Lane, according to Sullivan County authorities.

He also faces two counts of attempted murder, reckless endangerment and several weapon charges.

(IMAGE: Property of Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office)