Wife seeks justice after deadly head-on collision in Effingham County

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - A Ludowici father died Friday after another vehicle crossed the center line and struck his car on Old Augusta Road South.

Michael Sharpe was killed in the head-on crash just after 5 p.m. Friday. His wife, Crystal Sharpe, was on the phone with him when the crash happened.

“Well, I was on the phone with him when it happened, actually. So I didn’t know what was going on at first,” Crystal Sharpe said. “When it happened, you know, it just sounded like his earpiece was messing up.”

The suspect, Janamejoy Jansasoy, came into the country illegally in December 2023, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The agency said he was released into the country under the Biden administration, failed to show up to his immigration proceedings, and an immigration judge issued him a final order of removal two weeks before the crash.

Suspect acted erratically at hospital

The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect began acting unstable once he was taken to the hospital.

“He was acting erratic at the hospital due to being an illegal alien and facing deportation,” said Brian Bailey with the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office.

Crystal Sharpe said learning about the suspect’s status made the loss harder.

“And then when we found out that, that the guy was drunk and that he was a illegal immigrant and wasn’t even supposed to be in this country, it was even harder for us,” she said. “Because if he weren’t here, then it wouldn’t have happened.”

Family remembers loving father

Crystal Sharpe said her husband was a caring family man with two young children. She wants her community to remember him for being adventurous and loving the outdoors.

“He was a lover of the woods and the water and loved hunting, fishing, and getting the kids involved in all of that as well,” she said.

She said nothing will bring her husband back but she wants the suspect to be held accountable.

“I don’t want him deported. I want him to stay here,” Crystal Sharpe said. “And I want him to suffer the consequences of what he has done.”

Jansasoy is being charged with homicide by vehicle, DUI and other charges.

Sharpe’s family has started a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses.