'It's been like a nightmare.' Allerton community remembers multiple lives lost in recent days
The vigil honored both Robin Kennedy and Angel Johnson, who were killed in a car crash, as well as Nathalie Ramirez, who was allegedly pushed off her balcony.
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Leaders of the Allerton community decided to postpone Saturday's scheduled food festival and instead hold a vigil to honor people who died in tragedies in just a few weeks.
Among those in attendance were the Kennedy family, including George Kennedy.
One of his sisters was killed, another was hurt and his mother suffered brain damage which still has her in the ICU when a car ran through two crosswalks and crashed into multiple cars at the intersection of Allerton Avenue and Holland Avenue on Oct. 9.
"I had the best sister," Kennedy said. "I was her big brother and she was my little sister. I'm going to miss her."
While he said he is optimistic his mother will pull through, he also said, "it's been like a nightmare - it's just - it's just crazy."
Besides the members of the Kennedy family, 39-year-old Angel Johnson was also hit and killed in the crash.
Allerton International Merchants Association Executive Director Gene DeFrancis, who had known her for years, said she had just left the hospital where she was visiting her husband who is fighting prostate cancer.
"He was going after her and she said 'no stay there, I'll be fine,'" DeFrancis recalled. "And that was the last word that Angel said, because then, she crossed Allerton Avenue."
The vigil also took time to remember 23-year-old Nathalie Ramirez, who was allegedly pushed off her balcony by the father of her eight-month-old baby while holding their child in her arms.
"All of these women's lives mattered," said New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who was joined at the vigil by Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.
As for the crash, sources tell News 12 that the car's 81-year-old driver likely had a medical incident before it happened.
"I don't think so," Kennedy replied. "(In the surveillance video) it seemed like he did it intentionally and I just hope he turns himself in because, it's wrong what he did."
Police tell News 12 that the driver has not yet been arrested or charged.
