Philadelphia Region Local News

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― Two suspects have been charged with murder in connection to a crash that killed three children and a young mother in the Feltonville section of Philadelphia Wednesday evening.

Donta Cradock, 18, and Ivan Rodriguez, 20, have both been charged with murder, armed robbery, assault and related offenses, police said.

The tragic incident happened at about 7:30 p.m. near the intersection of 3rd and Winghocking Streets.

The incident began with the armed theft of a silver Yamaha motorcycle near the corner of Fisher and Rising Sun Avenues in North Philadelphia, police said.

One suspect fled the scene riding the motorcycle while a second suspect sped off in a silver Pontiac.

A traffic officer spotted the Pontiac in the southbound lanes of the Roosevelt Boulevard a short time later, police said. The officer waited to stop the vehicle until the driver became stuck in traffic.

Detectives said the suspect, 18-year-old Donta Cradock, fled at a high rate of speed.

Police said the Pontiac sped down 3rd Street before losing control, jumping the curb and striking a mother and three children in front of a home near Winghocking Street.

A 7-year-old and a 6-year-old were both killed instantly while an 11-month old was rushed to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children where she later died.

The 22-year-old female, identified as Latoya Smith, was transported to Einstein Medical Center in grave condition. She died from her injuries at about 7:15 a.m. Thursday.

Family said Smith was the mother of the 11-month-old victim, identified as Remedy Smith. The 7-year-old victim, Gina Marie Rosario, was a neighbor and the relation of the 6-year-old victim, Alliyah Griffin, is unknown.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said no skid marks were apparent at the scene, meaning the suspect made no attempts to slow down. He added the vehicle must have been traveling at an extreme speed due to the horrific scene.

Cradock was apprehended and taken to Temple University Hospital. Police recovered a handgun from the mangled vehicle.

The stolen motorcycle was recovered at a suspect's home in the 4000 block of North 8th Street. Police apprehended 20-year-old Ivan Rodriguez at the home.

According to sources, Cradock and Rodriquez had their car towed and needed money to get it back from the parking authority.

Sources said Cradock and Rodriquez decided to steal the motorcycle in order to get cash to get their car back.

Philadelphia District Attorney's office has charged both Cradock and Rodriguez each with four counts of murder in connection with the carjacking and subsequent accident.

Philadelphia Police Captain James Clark said both men have extensive criminal histories and had outstanding bench warrants for unrelated offenses.

According to court records, Cradock has eight prior arrests for offenses that include robbery, aggravated assault and weapons offenses.

Grieving friends, family and community members have started a growing memorial at the site of the tragic crash.

AAA issued a statement calling for a full and impartial investigation into the crash saying in part:

"Philadelphia Police say an officer was following the suspect, but not in "hot pursuit." Nonetheless, something went horribly wrong when the suspect crashed in a group of innocent bystanders - and many questions have yet to be answered."

In a news conference Thursday morning, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said the department has a policy of restricted pursuit in felony cases.

"The need to apprehend the offender has to outweigh the risk inherent in the pursuit itself," Ramsey said. "This wasn't that situation."

The incident remains under investigation.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

CBS3.com Editor's Picks

• Celebrities On Twitter
• 2009 Celebrity Deaths
• 'It Girls' Gone Bad
• Openly Gay Celebrities
• Celebrity Snapshots
• Who Are The Greenest Celebrities?