Four teenagers were killed in a brutal hit-and-run collision in St. Louis, Missouri, on Sunday when a car slammed into their SUV, blew a red light, and sent it careening off a bridge, according to authorities.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police said in a statement sent via email to PEOPLE that the suspect fled on foot and is currently at large.
According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police, a Chevy Impala struck a Chevy Tahoe after running a stop sign on Grand Boulevard on Sunday at 1:30 a.m.
According to the police statement, the incident caused the Tahoe to “hit the bridge guardrail and slide off the bridge, where it landed upside down in the westbound lanes of Forest Park.”
Courtney McKinley, the driver, is still alive.
Nevertheless, according to the email from the police, the collision claimed the lives of his brother, Corntrail McKinley, 20, of St. Louis, as well as Bryanna Dentman-Johnson, 18, of Vinita Park, Anthony Robinson, 19, of Jennings, and Richard Boyd, 19, of Sullivan.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Courtney McKinley and three other people were hurt and sent to the hospital, where they were rated as serious but stable.
Courtney McKinley expressed shock at his survival after the violent crash at KMOV.
He told KMOV, “I woke up in the hospital thinking, ‘Dang, it’s really real.'”
Shanta Lucius, his mother, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that she is distraught by the loss of her son, who was constantly with his brother.
Courtney McKinley said, “We did everything together.” We were always a unit.
They moved into their own apartment together and started working as merchandisers at Pepsi Co. after graduating from Vashon High School, he told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
He said that his brother was the father of a two-year-old boy.
According to McKinley, “he was a full-time father.” to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “He desired having more children.” His future was in his plans. He was going to achieve his goals in full.
Senior at St. Louis’ KIPP High School, Dentman-Johnson
According to her 38-year-old mother, Stephanie Boyd, she was a fashionista who was eager to attend college.
Boyd stated, “I miss her just knocking on the door and letting me know she was home from work.” I keep disintegrating into fragments. simply sobbing and crying.”
A GoFundMe account was set up by the McKinley family to cover burial and hospital expenses.
Sister Antonette Sutton described Corntrail McKinley on GoFundMe as “just 20 years old, extremely kind, and kept to himself.”
His 2-year-old son, Kash McKinley, who would now have to grow up without a father because of a senseless act, was left behind. “It would be wonderful if you could contribute anything!”
Anyone with information about that evening or the suspect is invited to contact CrimeStoppers, an anonymous hotline for reporting crime tips, at 866-371-TIPS (8477).