ATLANTA -- For the second time in three days, a high-speed police chase in metro Atlanta ended with the loss of innocent lives.
Dorothy Smith Wright, 75, of Atlanta was behind the wheel of her car with her 12-year-old grandson Cameron Costner and 6-year-old Layla Partridge, both of Fayetteville, Ga., Sunday when a stolen Chevy Suburban crashed into them, killing all three.
LaTaucha Harris, Wright's niece, said the family is speechless after learning the news.
"I don't think we've really processed it," Harris said. "I can't find words...I just can't find words."
According to authorities, College Park police units began chasing the car around 9:15 a.m. Sunday after it received a report of an auto theft at the Westin Hotel near Hartsfield-Jackson airport.
Police tried to pull the driver over, but the driver didn't stop. The driver was chased all the way to the intersection of South Gordon Street and Rogers Avenue, where the deadly crash took place.
Dorothy and Cameron were both killed in the wreck, while Layla passed away later on Sunday evening.
"My cousin lost her whole family in one car…her mother and her two children - gone. Just like that," Harris said. "They loved their grandmother. She was their everything, and they were her everything."
After the collision, the suspect fled the scene. Harris urged the driver to surrender to authorities.
"It's senseless," Harris said. "Over what? A joyride? Just turn yourself in. Face the consequences."
Harris said that Layla had graduated pre-kindergarten a few months ago. Cameron loved going to church with his grandmother to sing. Dorothy loved to travel and planned to head to Mardi Gras festivities next week.
College Park's Police chief says the Fulton County DA will investigate to see if their officers were in the right to continue the chase inside the neighborhood.
On Thursday night, a married couple was killed in Johns Creek when a car involved in a high-speed police chase slammed into their Mercedes in the intersection of Peachtree Parkway at Jay Bird Alley.
