Court backlog prolongs pursuit of justice for families of young couple killed in reckless crash

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MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Two families are speaking out after a horrific crash claimed the life of a young couple, saying the Milwaukee County court backlog is preventing them from getting justice.

On Nov. 7, around 11:20 p.m., police responded to a crash that happened at the intersection of N. Teutonia and Villard Street, which claimed the lives of 20-year-old Erin Crooms and 22-year-old Nakayla Evans.

The mother of Evans, Michelle Riley, got emotional when remembering the young couple.

"They were goofy together, they kept each other smiling, like every time I'd see them together they would always be smiling," said Riley.

The sister of 20-year-old Erin Croom, Ericka Croom, said the young couple were together for only three months before their lives were cut short.

"You didn't know until you were around them like how strong they cared about each other," said Croom.

According to a police complaint, a 16-year-old sped through a red light at a high speed and collided with the couple's car. The car was allegedly stolen, and the teen was driving without a valid license. He was taken into custody days later.

He's facing two counts of knowingly operating a car without a valid license that caused death, a low level felony.

Crooms and Riley said they're frustrated because the Milwaukee County backlog has slowed down their process of getting justice.

"They keep rescheduling his hearings because one attorney doesn't have all the information or we're waiting on a witness," said Crooms.

Riley added, "Or we're waiting on an attorney. We waited the first two preliminaries because he didn't have an attorney."

The women believe the teen should also face a harsher punishment.

"He took two peoples' lives meaning like they're no longer here, they're no longer breathing, we can't talk to them they can't talk to us. So I feel like reasonable he needs at least 30 plus for each life," said Crooms.

The teen is expected in court Feb. 14.

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