They were described as Russian immigrants but by the names, we know who they are. They are probably some animals from a Central Asian former Soviet republic.
Mother, 3 Children Killed on The Boulevard
By David Chang, Dan Stamm, Queen Muse and Lauren DiSanto
| Wednesday, Jul 17, 2013 | Updated 10:36 PM EDT
Roosevelt boulevard, infamously known as one of the most dangerous roads in the country, claimed the lives of a mother and three of her young sons late Tuesday night, leaving her fourth son injured while attempting to cross the busy roadway.
Police arrested Khusen Akhmedov, 23, of Lancaster City, and Ahmen Holloman, 30, of Philadelphia just after 8:00 p.m. Both men are facing a long list of charges stemming from the deadly crash.
According to police, a 2012 Audi traveling southbound on the Boulevard from Front Street at a high rate of speed was observed by a witness street racing with a 1994 Honda when the Audi lost control, and struck and killed a mother and her three children.
Akhmedov is the suspected driver of that Audi.
"The family is very devastated," said Walter Holmes, stepfather. "Right now we're just grieving, staying together as a family."
The mother, who has been identified as 28 year-old Samara Selena Banks from the 4600 Block of C Street and her 23 month-old son Saa-Sean, were both pronounced dead on the scene.
Saamir Williams, a nine month-old male was pronounced dead at Einstein Hospital. Four year-old Saa-Deem was transported to Saint Christopher's Hospital for Children and was pronounced dead at 4:45 a.m. today. The fourth child, 5 year-old Saa-yon was released from Albert Einstein Hospital with bumps and bruises.
Police say the Banks was walking with her four sons near the intersection late Tuesday night. As they stepped off the grassy median -- not at a crosswalk -- and onto the Boulevard, they were almost immediately struck by the oncoming silver Audi sedan, according to investigators.
A mangled stroller, a smashed up windshield and a fallen street sign were just some of the damage left in the wake of the wreck.
Akhmedov stayed at the crash scene and was taken by police for routine blood tests.
"At least he had sense enough to stay, cause usually if somebody hits you while drag racing, they keep on going," said Cherrill Holmes, step grandmother.
Akhemedov and Holloman are charged with four counts of Homicide by Vehicle, Third Degree Murder and Involuntary Manslaughter. They are also charged with five counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person and 1 count of Aggravated Assault, Simple Assault and Aggravated Assault by Vehicle.
The accident occurred less than half a mile from Third and Wingohocking streets where a 2009 police chase resulted in the death of a mother and three children.
A 2001 State Farm Insurance study ranked two Roosevelt Boulevard cross streets, Red Lion Road and Grant Avenue, as the second and third most deadly intersections in the country. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) during the past five years, there were nearly 3,000 crashes and more than 40 fatalities on the Boulevard.
Southbound lanes on the inner and outer Boulevard were shut down for more than six hours from Mascher Street to N 3rd Street as investigators tried to figure out what happened. Traffic began getting by again around 5:10 a.m. Wednesday.
Topic: Muslims Kill Blacks While Drag Racing (Read 470 times)