Vigil held for mom killed in Brandywine Valley SPCA crash

An emotional night in Delaware as friends and family came together to remember a local mom and three cats. They all died yesterday after a car slammed into the Brandywine Valley SPCA in New Castle. 36-year-old Latoya Cooper leaves behind five children.

Tonight, the community gathered for a vigil at the same spot where tragedy struck.

READ MORE: Woman killed, SPCA building badly damaged in crash

"This is so hard for me. I lost my daughter."

A grieving mother stood before the community, Brandywine SPCA staff and first responders. Her voice hoarse she said from crying.

Police say Latoya lost control of the vehicle she was driving along South Street and crashed into the animal shelter. Three cats inside also died.

Eli Martinez works there and rushed over when he got the call about the crash.

"I was praying for Latoya the whole time. I was in there and for the animals that were in there that passed away," he said.

Those gathered held a moment of silence and put down carnations at the site.

"We can't bring her back. We can't bring the animals back. But we can stay strong and stay a family," her uncle Anthony Cooper said.

It's unclear what caused Latoya to go off the road. Family members say they don't know why she was on that side of town. She leaves behind five children between the ages of 2 and 16 years old.

Her mother vowing to take care of them.

"Since she's not here anymore, I'm going to carry it on but I just need a little bit of help," the victim's mom, Juanette Cooper, said.

The family has set up a GoFundMe page for anyone who would like to donate for the children and for Latoya's funeral expenses.