CHICAGO (CBS) — It’s been more than a month since two cousins were killed and a third was seriously injured in a crash on the city’s West Side.
Brittany Payne, 32, of Chicago, and Yolanda Payne, 47of Bellwood, were trying to get home from a night out when their lives were cut short last July. Five weeks later, the family of the nephews and nieces cannot understand why there are no new developments in the case and wants the Chicago police to prioritize the case.
Delivered to CBS 2
The family is also pleading with the community for help in finding the person who fled the scene.
Emotions are still running high for Adrianna Payne and her mother Sonji.
“Someone needs to listen to us and hear our voice,” said Sonji Payne.
They want everyone to know how much pain they are still experiencing after the collision in late July. The victims, Brittany and Yolanda Payne, are Adrianna Payne’s sister and niece, respectively.
“Brittany’s birthday is on September 29th and she will not be there to celebrate her 33rd birthday,” Adrianna Payne said.
But instead of celebrating, aunt and grandmother Adrianna and Sonji Payne are filling the void for Brittany’s three children left behind, the youngest of whom still wonders about her mother.
“Sometimes she says, ‘My mom is in heaven.’ I say, ‘Yes, your mom is in heaven,’” Sonji Pane said.
But the family says their loved ones can’t really find peace because no one is in custody anymore.
“I think we need justice for them,” said Adrianna Payne.
On Sunday, July 28, at 4:30 a.m., someone driving a speeding SUV collided with the car carrying Brittany, Yolanda and a second cousin on the 200 block of North Kedzie Avenue, near Lake Street in East Garfield Park.
Brittany and Yolanda died at the scene. The surviving cousin was recently released from the hospital with serious injuries.
“My niece had to have stitches removed from her head; she suffered a spinal injury,” said Sonji Payne.
The person who caused the fatal double crash abandoned the SUV and was still at large nearly six weeks later.
“He or she, someone knows something about it, and someone knows in that neighborhood where that happened,” Sonji Payne said.
Mrs. Payne also wants to know what the Chicago police know. The police said late Friday night that there is nothing new in the case, and that does not please the Payne family.
“I want them to dig deeper into this investigation,” said Sonji Payne, “cameras, fingerprints — they have to have something.”
They hope it will also have an impact on the person who caused their grief.
“Maybe he was scared, but he was still a coward,” Adrianna Payne said.
“Surrender yourself,” said Sonji Payne.
Despite the SUV being left at the crime scene, Chicago police have not released whether or not the vehicle is stolen. This information could at least reveal the family, because if the vehicle is not stolen, the owner should be able to tell who was behind the wheel that night.
Jermont Terry
