Vigil Held in Northeast Philadelphia for Crash Victims

PHILADELPHIA--(WTXF)--A vigil was held for three young people who lost their lives in a car crash in Northeast Philadelphia in August.

"These three lives are so remembered every day," said Crystal Smith as lanterns lit up the sky in Northeast Philadelphia. Tuesday night friends and family filled with grief remembered three young people killed in a car crash two months ago.

"We just wanted to shed light on them. We wanted the victims to still have voices. So much has been taken for them. We want justice," said Smith. Her 17-year-old sister Sabrina Rhoads was killed along with 17-year-old Yvette Gonzalez and 20-year-old Felipe Hernandez.

"This is to let everybody know that our voices for them are not going to stay quiet. We want justice. Something has to be done," said Lorraine Hernandez, Felipe's aunt.

The victims were passengers in the 2007 Acura police say was speeding on Sandymeyer Lane when it crashed into a tree. A fourth passenger survived but was critically hurt. The driver, 20-year-old Chris Bloomfield also survived. Police say he left the scene but later showed up at the hospital hurt.

Jim McDade is Yvette Gonzalez's step-father.

"She hung with him a lot. He was over her mother's house a lot. They knew each other well. They were friends. Supposedly they were good friends and he left them there," said McDade.

Before the crowd released lanterns and balloons they gathered for song and prayer. Family members say their hearts are heavy and they won't rest easy until someone is held accountable.

"There's no arrests for these three souls that lost their lives and had their whole lives to live and now there's nothing but sad and sorrow," said Hernandez. Police said the driver was cooperating with the investigation but no charges have been filed or arrests made. They're also investigating whether he was drag racing another car when the crash happened.