Memorial picnic marks 1 year anniversary of deadly Tioga carjacking crash

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Sunday, July 26, 2015
VIDEO: Memorial picnic marks anniversary of deadly carjacking crash
A memorial picnic was held to mark the solemn 1-year anniversary of a carjacking crash in Philadelphia that killed a mother and three children.

TIOGA (WPVI) -- Food, music and fun activities - all distractions from a solemn anniversary on Saturday.

It's been one year since Keisha Williams and her three children 15-year-old Keiearra Williams, 10-year-old Thomas Reed, and 7-year-old Terrence Moore were struck and killed during a carjacking crash.

"I knew it was coming but when I woke up this morning it just hit me. But on this one year anniversary we're going to have a fun day today for the kids," said Rochelle Williams, Keisha's sister.

Pictured: Keiearra Williams, 15, Joseph Reed, 9, and Terrence Moore, 7. All three children were struck and killed by a carjacked SUV on July 25, 2014.

Jonathan Rosa and Cornelius Crawford are awaiting trial, charged with the carjacking and murder.

The scene of the tragedy at Germantown and Allegheny avenues is now the site of a memorial picnic.

"I just miss her. She was funny. She always protected me because I was her baby sister," said Sharmaine Williams, Keisha's sister.

Now Sharmaine has the task of protecting Keisha's two surviving daughters 12-year-old Charmaine and 14-year-old Aeisha.

"It was really hard. I miss her so much," said Charmaine Williams, Keisha's daughter.

The girls say they miss their siblings but the past year has brought them closer.

"It's tough growing up without them because then you only have one sister and then you're like, 'Wow, what's going on right now?'" said Aeisha Williams, Keisha's daughter.

The fun activities - the bounce houses, the food, the music - was all donated by community agencies.

Organizers say as the one year anniversary drew closer, they knew they wanted to do something fun for the community, rather than something somber.

"We wanted to celebrate her life and have a day of fun because one thing we know, Keisha would not want us to be sitting around crying and mourning and being all sad," said Sheila Armstrong, organizer.

The hope is to make this an annual event - keeping Keisha's passion for community service alive.