Driver dead, young passenger badly hurt after crash, driver's brother says: "I want to know why"



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A young man was killed and his passenger seriously injured in a crash that occurred early Sunday morning, May 3rd near 36th and Clarke.

It happened around 7:15 a.m.

Investigators say an SUV was headed southbound on N. 36th Street at a high rate of speed when it left the roadway and struck a tree, killing the unlicensed 19-year-old male driver. He has been identified as Dominic Smith. An 11-year-old male passenger was taken to a hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Family members tell FOX6 News Smith and his 11-year-old passenger are cousins. They were apparently asked to move a vehicle prior to the crash, family members say.

The vehicle came to a rest in front of a home near 36th and Clarke.

Crash at 36th & Clarke



"I'm sorry that all the other children had to see this," Patrice Rollins said.

Rollins' daughter was home with the crash happened.

"From what she described, it was horrific. She said it was a big boom and her window happened to be open and it scared her," Rollins said.

After the vehicle was taken away from the scene, family members began arriving. They say the older of the two was asked to move his mother's vehicle.

"They just told them to pull the car around, so that's what they were supposed to be, pulling the car around," a family member said.

"They were good kids. My brother wasn't out here in these streets. My little cousin wasn't out here in these streets. It was just a terrible accident," Keith Smith, the brother of the 19-year-old driver said.

Rollins says it's amazing no one else was hurt.

"Parents -- we need to be out here looking after our children," Rollins said.

"It's just messed up that this happened to them. I just want to know why. That's all I really want to know is why my little brother left today," Smith said.

A vigil was held for Smith Monday evening near the scene of the crash.

36th and Clarke crash vigil



36th and Clarke crash vigil



Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.