Brothers killed after car crashes off I-95 in Philadelphia identified
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The two brothers who died when the car they were in went off an I-95 overpass in Philadelphia's Port Richmond section have been identified.
Police say a Mazda with four brothers from New Jersey inside went off the highway and landed on Castor Avenue below the interstate around 8:30 p.m. Friday.
The two killed have been identified as 22-year-old Joshua Davis of Cranbury and 23-year-old Aaron Davis of East Windsor, Pennsylvania State Police said Monday.
Their two younger brothers, twin 18-year-olds Benjamin and Nathaniel Davis of East Windsor, were seriously injured in the crash, according to state police.
The view from Chopper 6 shows a break in the guardrail where the vehicle plunged about 20 to 30 feet.
The two rear passengers were ejected from the vehicle and died as a result of their injuries.
The driver and the front passenger were taken to nearby hospitals where they remain in critical condition.
Witnesses told police that the drivers of Mazda and a Dodge Challenger were racing down I-95 northbound at a high rate of speed when the driver of the Mazda lost control.
It's unclear what caused the driver to lose control.
Pennsylvania State Police say that a puppy riding in the vehicle was also ejected and found dead.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to call Philadelphia police.
"Lord help us"
Senior Pastor Donald Hilliard told Action News on Monday that the Davis family is a part of his congregation at Cathedral International Church.
"My prayer was simply, 'Lord help us,'" he said. "I talked about it on that night and I had to stop talking, tears just coming down."
It was a somber scene Sunday as he shared the news before the church.
"These are our church babies. They were born into this church. I christened all the boys. I baptized them," he said on Sunday.
"I remember them being warm," Hilliard told Acton News. "Absolutely well-spoken young men."
Moving forward is something he said won't be easy.
"I'm their pastor, but as a parent, it's unimaginable," he said.
He says the family is receiving an outpouring of support as they prepare for a double funeral.
"We will miss them for the rest of our lives," Hilliard said.
