Woman reaches out to family of crash victims

FELTONVILLE (WPVI) -- A Feltonville woman whose loved ones were killed five years ago after a carjacking has reached out to the Tioga victims' families.

"We share their pain," says Janice Brown. "You don't know what someone is going through until you experience it."

Brown knows what the relatives of Friday's carjacking crash victims are going through.

On Saturday she went to the scene of the crash and reached out to the families.

In June of 2009 her family members died under similar circumstances.

"They stole a motorcycle, and there was a chase," Brown recalls. "And the guy lost control of the car."

Donte Cradock and Ivan Rodriguez committed armed robbery then carjacked a motorcycle.

Rodriguez fled in the motorcycle, Cradock in a Pontiac Grand Am.

Minutes later, Cradock crashed in front of a Feltonville home, killing Brown's daughter, 22-year-old Latoya Smith, and Brown's grandchildren, 11-month-old Rimanee Camp-Smith, and 6-year-old Aaliyah Griffin.

A family friend, 7-year-old Gina Rosario was also killed. Her grandmother, Sandra Elias, witnessed it. Friday's crash brought it all back for her.

"The same flashbacks of June 10th," said Elias, "of Gina Marie and the three kids getting killed here."

Gina's grandmom keeps a picture in memory of all four killed.

Both grandmothers offered this advice about what they have learned from their pain:

"It doesn't get easier. You're always thinking about them. My prayers go out to you," said Elias.

"I would just tell them we are praying for them," said Brown, "and to stay in prayer."

The children killed are being remembered as the Third Street Angels. A giant mural remains near the scene of the crash. The two men responsible are serving life in prison.