Jun 11, 2009 9:15 am US/Pacific
Woman Dies After Pa. Car Rampage Kills 3 Kids
Man Fleeing Philadelphia Police After Armed Robbery Jumped Curb Hitting Crowd
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) ―
-
-
Donte Cradock, 18, and Ivan Rodriguez, 20, were taken into custody after a carjacking and deadly crash in Philadelphia. on June 11, 2009.
CBS
A young mother and three children were killed after a speeding carjacking suspect careened into the front of a home in the Feltonville section of Philadelphia Wednesday evening.
The tragic incident happened at about 7:30 p.m. near the intersection of 3rd and Winghocking Streets.
The incident began with the armed theft of a silver Yamaha motorcycle near the corner of Fisher and Rising Sun Avenues in North Philadelphia, police said.
One suspect fled the scene riding the motorcycle while a second suspect sped off in a silver Pontiac.
A traffic officer spotted the Pontiac in the southbound lanes of the Roosevelt Boulevard a short time later, police said. The officer waited to stop the vehicle until the driver became stuck in traffic.
Detectives said the suspect, 18-year-old Donte Cradock, fled at a high rate of speed.
Police said the Pontiac sped down 3rd Street before losing control, jumping the curb and striking a mother and three children in front of a home near Winghocking Street.
A 7-year-old and a 6-year-old were both killed instantly while an 11-month old was rushed to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children where she later died.
The 22-year-old female, identified as Latoya Smith, was transported to Einstein Medical Center in grave condition. She died from her injuries at about 7:15 a.m. Thursday.
Family said Smith was the mother of the 11-month-old victim, identified as Remedy Smith. The 7-year-old victim, Gina Marie Rosario, was a neighbor and the relation of the 6-year-old victim, Alliyah Griffin, is unknown.
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said no skid marks were apparent at the scene, meaning the suspect made no attempts to slow down. He added the vehicle must have been traveling at an extreme speed due to the horrific scene.
Cradock was apprehended and taken to Temple University Hospital with unknown injuries. Police recovered a handgun from the mangled vehicle.
The stolen motorcycle was recovered at a suspect's home on the 4000 block of North 8th Street outside. Police apprehended 20-year-old Ivan Rodriguez at the home.
Both Cradock and Rodriguez have been charged in connection with the carjacking. More serious charges connected to the crash are expected pending approval from the District Attorney's office.
Philadelphia Police Captain James Clark said both men have extensive criminal histories and had outstanding bench warrants for unrelated offenses.
Grieving friends, family and community members have started a growing memorial at the site of the tragic crash.
AAA issued a statement calling for an inquiry into the actions of police prior to the accident saying:
"AAA is not blaming police directly pending the outcome of an investigation, but rather AAA is raising questions about the matter and seeking a full inquiry regarding police pursuit justification and proper protections for citizens."
In a news conference Thursday morning, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said the department has a policy of restricted pursuit in felony cases.
"The need to apprehend the offender has to outweigh the risk inherent in the pursuit itself," Ramsey said. "This wasn't that situation."
The incident remains under investigation.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
CBS News Interactive: Crime Beat
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments