ATLANTA -- The family of a grandmother and two grandchildren killed in crash after a police chase said the tragic has shattered their lives.
Dorothy Smith Wright, 75, of Atlanta was headed to church Sunday with her 12-year-old grandson, Cameron Costner, and 6-year-old Layla Partridge, when a stolen Chevrolet Suburban being pursued by police crashed into their vehicle at the intersection of South Gordon Street and Rogers Avenue.
Wright and Costner died in the wreck; Layla passed away later Sunday evening.
Douglas Partridge, Layla's father, said the family has been in shock since hearing the news.
"We're just trying to get accustomed," said Douglas Partridge. "Our life has really changed. We'll never been the same again."
Wright's daughter and the mother of the two children, Joi Partridge, said the tragic events have changed the family forever.
"It took a big chunk out of lives – out of our daily routines," said Joi Partridge. "It's like now, we have nothing to do," she said.
Joi said that she and the children would often spend the night at Dorothy's house on the weekend and go to church on Sunday.
"I had to work this Sunday, so she took them to church for me," Joi Partridge said.
The mother said her children had a "close-knit" relationship with their grandmother.
"Now when I go mom's house, there's nobody there anymore," Joi Partridge said. "Everybody's gone…It's just heartbreaking."
Douglas Partridge said the entire family had seen the new Star Wars movie over the Christmas holidays.
"My babies were together all the time," Douglas said.
Joi said her children often wanted hugs.
"If I'd had known this, I would have taken every hug," Joi said. "I wish I would have gotten every hug that he wanted to give."
Douglas Partridge said Wright would get up early every morning to read her Bible and "see us off every morning. That's how tight we were."
Douglas said he and wife were having trouble talking to their closest friends about their loss because "they wouldn't understand."
College Park Police began chasing the Suburban after receiving a report of an auto theft at the Westin Hotel near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Two separate investigations have been launched in connection with the crash. The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the crash itself, while the DA will look into whether College Park officers followed the department's 17-page pursuit policy. The suspect has yet to be captured.
Douglas Partidge said he wants an independent investigation into the crash to find out "exactly what happened."
"This woman has been going in that neighborhood for 40 years, going that same route," Douglas said. "We just wanted to know how and why this happened."
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family raise money for funeral expenses.
Funeral services for the victims will be held on Saturday, the family said.
