Aspiring singer Soriah Barry died in a devastating crash in east London just days before a meeting that could have helped launch her music career. According to a report by The Mirror, Barry, 27, was involved in the early-morning collision on February 8, 2025, while driving along Lea Bridge Road.
According to new details, evidence presented at an inquest revealed that her vehicle struck a stationary double-decker bus shortly before 7 am.
Witnesses Recall Loud Impact
GettyNow, more than a year after her tragic passing, more details are resurfacing about her final moments. Mirror reports that the young artist had just dropped off a friend moments before the crash. Witnesses said they heard a loud impact as her car collided with the parked 308 bus.
The force of the collision was so severe that the bus driver, Elizabeth Kalegga, was thrown from the driver’s seat onto the floor of the cab. Emergency responders rushed to the scene and attempted to save Barry. She was later transported to a hospital but tragically died from her injuries.
Medical officials later determined that her cause of death was internal bleeding and severe damage to the liver.
Metro reported that during the inquest, investigators outlined the moments leading up to the fatal crash.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Barry’s vehicle accelerated from 23 mph to 35 mph in the seconds before impact. The Daily Mail reported that Coroner Adam Smith noted that for roughly three seconds, there appeared to be no attempt to take evasive action.
Authorities also confirmed that Barry was not above the legal alcohol limit at the time of the collision.
The inquest further heard that Barry was not wearing a seatbelt when the crash occurred.
Family Speaks Out After Tragic Loss and Disturbing Online Footage Surfaces
Barry’s family later spoke about the heartbreaking hours after the crash and the painful moments that followed. Her mother, Saphiatu, said the wait to learn what had happened to her daughter was agonizing. She told Metro: “It’s crazy to think I actually got there [to the hospital] before her.
Police came and picked me up at 8 am, and I spent ages waiting in family rooms before a surgeon told me nothing more could be done.”
The grief deepened when disturbing footage of Barry receiving CPR at the scene began circulating online. “Trolls also said everything was Soriah’s fault,” she said.
“These people who post online should be ashamed, and the likes of TikTok should not allow it to be uploaded. They have made our difficult lives without Soriah even harder.” Saphiatu revealed that Barry’s 13-year-old sister had seen the video, adding another layer of trauma for the family.
Rising Singer Was Days Away From Apple Music Meeting That Could Have Launched Her Career
Those closest to the 27-year-old say the loss feels even more devastating because Barry’s music career had recently begun gaining real momentum.
In the days before the crash, she had been preparing for an important meeting with Apple Music that was scheduled for the following week. The conversation was expected to focus on releasing her R&B music to a wider audience. Her family later shared that Apple Music expressed interest in honoring Barry by releasing her songs posthumously.
Barry’s aunt, Malika Barry, said the young artist had been building exciting opportunities, and her future in music looked incredibly promising. “Everything was working well for her,” she told Mirror.
“The music was going so well; she had a meeting with Apple Music and was going on Spotify. She was so talented and beautiful – she was the full package.”
Another aunt, singer Jamilah Barry, remembered her niece as someone whose energy and kindness left a lasting impression on everyone who met her.
As per The Daily Mail, she said: “Soriah was a loyal person, always there for everyone in life. She was an aspiring singer. She was an inspiring person who would have a massive impression on you. She was very, very loved. We will never get over this.”
Jamilah added that Barry was “fierce, loyal, and wow – so full of life.”
Since her death, Apple Music has told her family that her songs will be uploaded as a tribute to her memory.
