Hibbing Raceway mourns couple killed in crash with suspected drunken driver

A 22-year-old motorist was drunk and driving without a license when he "floored it" through a red light in Sauk Rapids, Minn., and struck another car, killing a husband and wife from the Iron Range who were deeply involved in the auto racing scene.

Tom Souvannaphong, of St. Cloud, was charged Monday in Benton County District Court with four counts of criminal vehicular homicide, two counts of criminal vehicular operation, two counts of drunken driving and driving without a license.

Killed in the crash shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday were Kevin Davey, 51, and Kathy Davey, 45, of Hibbing. The Daveys were major contributors to the operations of Hibbing Raceway, where their children race.

"That was their life, their family," said Rudy Aho, president of the Hibbing Raceway. Aho said he had known Kevin Davey for many years, back to when Davey raced and later when he owned and co-owned cars. Kathy Davey was the track's treasurer at the time of her death. Both have sons who race. Her daughters also work at the track.

Kevin Davey's birthday was two days before the collision at N. Benton Drive and 2nd Street N. In wishes posted on her husband's Facebook page, Kathy wrote, "to my best friend, my husband, the man who makes my life complete. Hope that you have a great day. I love you to the moon & back!!" The two were married in 2010.

A third person riding with the Daveys, 25-year-old Krista Miller, also of Hibbing, was taken to St. Cloud Hospital and received stitches for a head injury.

A rainy Saturday set fate in motion for the Daveys. The soggy conditions canceled racing on Hibbing's dirt track, prompting Kathy's son, Dylan Miller, to scramble down to Sauk Rapids to compete at Granite City Speedway, Aho said. Kevin and Kathy Davey left a little later to watch Dylan race that night.

Afterward, the Daveys were to have gone to a friend's home in St. Cloud, where they planned to stay the night before heading back to Hibbing. They never made it.

"It's terrible, really terrible," said Aho, who counted Kevin Davey as a friend.

Away from the track, Kevin Davey worked for Hibbing Taconite, while Kathy Davey was employed by Baron's Pharmacy in town.

Souvannaphong, who has a previous drunken-driving conviction on his record from July 2014, was treated at the same hospital for his injuries before being booked into jail. He appeared in court Tuesday and remained held in lieu of $150,000 bail with conditions. "He's certainly understanding of the seriousness" of the case against him, said his defense attorney, James Spangler.

According to the charges, witnesses estimate Souvannaphong was driving 50 to 60 miles per hour in the 30 mph zone before the collision. At one point before entering the intersection, Souvannaphong cut to the right to avoid hitting the vehicle of one of the witnesses. That witness said Souvannaphong then "floored it" through what the complaint described as "a solid red light," striking the Daveys' car broadside with Kathy behind the wheel.

Souvannaphong told officers at the scene that he had at least three beers while attending a graduation party. The officers noted that Souvannaphong was staggering and appeared confused. A preliminary breath test registered 0.101 percent, higher than the legal limit.

He has a state ID card but no driver's license. Along with the previous drunken-driving incident, he has been ticketed three times since 2009 for speeding and once for failure to exercise due care or control.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482