Mother, four children hit by speeding car on Boulevard

This story was updated at 10:45 a.m.

A 27-year-old woman and three of her children were fatally injured late Tuesday night when they were struck by a car possibly drag racing another vehicle on Roosevelt Boulevard in the city's Feltonville section, police said.

Relatives identified the victims as Samara Banks and her sons Saa'mir Williams, 9 months; Saa'sean Williams, 23 months; and Saa'deem Griffin, 4.

A fourth boy, Saa'yon Griffin, 5, was treated at Albert Einstein Medical Center and released to relatives Wednesday morning.

Witnesses told police the family was hit by a 2012 Audi that was drag racing with a 1994 Honda about 10:20 p.m. on the boulevard near North 2d Street.

The 22-year-old man who was behind the wheel of the Audi remained at the scene and was taken to Police Headquarters in Center City to have his blood tested for any evidence of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Police said charges were pending Wednesday morning.

Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said witnesses flagged down 35th District officers and alerted them to the accident.

The victims had been crossing the southbound lane at a point where there is no traffic light or pedestrian crossing when they were hit.

Banks, who was pushing a stroller, and Saa'sean were pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Small said. The infant died at Einstein Medical Center.

Saa'deem was taken to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, where he died at 4:45 a.m. Wednesday.

At Banks' home, family members gathered to grieve and care for Saa'yon.

Relatives said the little boy was being typically quiet but that he covered his ears when the subject of the accident came up.

"I can't belive it. I feel like I'm in a dream," said Janice Lawson, 62, Banks' grandmother and the boys' great-grandmother.

"They were fully loving, really attached to their mother," Lawson said of the boys. "They were sweet kids. They loved their mom."

Banks' friend Tyeisha Marshall, 27, said Banks and their children were returning home from visiting relatives on the other side of the boulevard when they were killed.

"She always said the boulevard was dangerous," Marshall said. "They why she would always hold her children tightly."

"I'm hurt," Marshall said. "That was my best friend. I love them. I love the kids, I love her and I miss her so much."

Contact Robert Moran at 215-854-5983 or bmoran@phillynews.com or follow @RobertMoran215 on Twitter.