It’s been almost two weeks since highway street racers allegedly hit a 32-year-old woman before leaving her to die on an Atlanta interstate. Now, her family is finally speaking out, and they want answers.
The Aug. 4 crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. when investigators say Shantea Reeves was walking along the shoulder of Interstate 20, according to Fox 5. Police say Reeves was hit by at least one vehicle speeding and swerving between traffic.
Once hit, Reeves was propelled into the middle of I-20 where she likely was struck by other vehicles driving, according to 11 Alive. She was pronounced dead at the scene. On Thursday, Reeves family and Atlanta police called on the public for help finding the hit-and-run driver(s).
“How could you live knowing that you hurt somebody?” Reeves’ mother, Della, said during a Thursday press conference. “You took a life. Not only did you take a life, she got hit, and got hit multiple times so that her body is not even intact,” she continued.
In addition to being a daughter, sister, and friend to those that loved her, Reeves was also a mother to an 11-year-old daughter named Claire. The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral costs and Claire’s fund. So far, the page has raised more than $13,000.
“I will never let this go, so anybody, please, if you know anything, anything, please come forward and help us. We actually need help. I need help,” Della said to the public.
The vehicle in question is believed to be a 2001 to 2015 dark colored Lexus with physical damage to its’ front, according to Atlanta News Now. Della told reporters on Thursday, “I just know there’s somebody who knows somebody who knows what happened.”
The police department released video footage showing the suspected racers traveling in the far left and right lanes of I-20. The vehicle on the right tried to avoid another vehicle in front of them before striking Reeves on the highway’s shoulder, according to investigator Timothy Zbikowski.