Two teenagers died yesterday after an SUV ran a red light and collided with a fire truck Friday afternoon, police said.
Sixteen-year-old Lashae Johnson and 15-year-old Briyana Hayes of Akron were killed.
Johnson was enrolled in East Community Learning Center High School in Akron. Hayes was enrolled in Butchel Community Learning Center.
Her mother told News 5, during a vigil that Johnson dreamed of becoming a nurse or going into cosmetology. She is now demanding answers and more details on how the crash happened.
"She was loved by everybody," said Shoskamika Risper, Lashae Johnson's mom, "Everyone is saying that the fire truck hit the car, so we just want justice, we want to know what really happened."
A total of eight people were taken to three Akron hospitals after the crash, including three firefighters. The firefighters suffered minor injuries, according to Akron Police Captain Dan Zampelli.
Fire Chief Clarence tucker said the engine from Station 3 was not in route to a call when the accident happened around 3:45 p.m. on Akron's near west side.
The SUV was driving westbound on West Exchange Street and ran into the fire truck which was heading southbound on Rhodes Avenue.
Police are checking to see if the driver who crashed into the fire truck has a valid driver's license, and the city is conducting a full investigation into the events surrounding the accident.
Police haven't released the names or ages of the other accident victims. Some of the survivors from the SUV are children, police said.
Johnson's family has set up a GoFundMe page here.
