"I miss her so much:" Milwaukee family mourns mother, baby, killed in crash
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – Charges have been filed against a Milwaukee man accused of causing a crash that left a mother and her infant daughter dead.
Reggie Gaston, 22, faces two counts of second degree reckless homicide.
Gaston made his initial appearance in Milwaukee County court Thursday. His leg was wrapped in a cast as he was wheeled in to hear his charged.
According to the criminal complaint, Gaston’s SUV was going 78 mph when he ran a red light at Capitol and 35th Street around 1:15 a.m. on Monday.
His SUV slammed into another car as it entered the intersection, later hitting a bus.
27-year-old Shakela Rhodes, and her 11-month-old daughter Aaliyah were killed in the crash. A 15-year-old relative was also seriously injured. A fundraiser has been set up to help the family.
At Jackie Rhodes' house, family members have been fighting back tears all week.
"It's hurtful when she's not here, and you think about it and you can't see her again," said Shakela's Aunt, Marilyn Copeland. "You can't bring her back, her and her baby."
According to the complaint, Gaston hobbled away from the crash and hopped into another car. At no point did he go to check on Rhodes or the children.
"Somebody hits you and they just keep going? Don't even think about the lives they've taken?" said Copeland. "I'm glad they caught him, and I hope they throw the book at him."
According to investigators, Gaston was later dropped off at an area hospital wearing just one shoe.
The shoe matched another single shoe left inside the car, according to police.
Detectives also found nearly 4 grams of crack cocaine in Gaston's vehicle, per the complaint.
Blood results were collected at the hospital, and are pending. Police say Gaston's eyes were "glassy and bloodshot."
Gaston is being held on a $200,000 cash bond.
If convicted, the 22-year-old faces up to 80.5 years in prison.
Rhodes leaves behind 4 other children, who will be raised by her mother. The family is still trying to figure out how they'll afford both funerals.
"I don't know when it's really going to set in, but she'll always be in our hearts, her and her baby," says Copeland.