Stolen car crash kills passenger, injures pedestrians

SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA - April 6, 2011

The crash happened at 58th and Chester around 7:00 p.m.

Police say the car ran a red light, plowed into another vehicle, then hit the three pedestrians.

The horrific crash Tuesday night involved innocent bystanders. But it was also the tragic last chapter in the lives of a pair of star crossed twin brothers, swallowed up by the mean streets of Southwest Philadelphia; more grief than one family can handle.

"Everybody loved him. The happiest person you would want to meet. Always, he loved his family no matter what," said Tamara Sephes, the victim's sister.

21-year old Kalil Sephes was thrown from the car and killed. He was a passenger in the stolen Acura when it ran a red light and slammed into another car.

The stolen car then plowed into several pedestrians. The driver of the stolen car, 20 year old Robert Carter, has been charged with murder.

Friends and family of Kalil Sephes gathered at this mother's house on Wednesday. It is now an all too familiar ritual.

Six years ago they gathered here to mourn the death of Kalil's twin brother. Sixteen year old Kareem Sephes was shot in the head just blocks from his home.

"It's hard," said Wanda Sephes. "First his brother, and now him; the twins. It was like, they're our babies. Those are the babies."

Kalil and Kareem were the youngest of 14 children. Their childhood friends are stunned that both are now gone.

Kalil's girlfriend says he made friends with everyone.

"He was always smiling, always laughing. Like they said, you could never be mad at him," said Jasmine Copeland.

Kalil and Robert Carter were best friends. The car they were in was stolen in Upper Darby last week.

Kalil is dead, and Carter is facing life in prison. A fate met by so many other young men in this crime ridden neighborhood. And now twin brothers joined in death just six years apart.

"If you ever needed anything from him, he would go out of his way to make sure you had it, money, whatever. He was just a good person," said Wanda.

The three elderly pedestrians injured Tuesday night are all now in stable condition and able to talk with police.

The driver of the car, Robert Carter has been arraigned on the murder charge and others bedside at the hospital where he is in good condition.

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