Fatal accident in Milwaukee; I remember the mother and daughter who were lost 7 years ago

MILWAUKEE – It's been seven years since a Milwaukee mother and her young daughter died in a crash.

On Wednesday, October 2, her loved ones continue to honor her memory and remind Milwaukee to slow down.

With each balloon, the family of 27-year-old Shakela Rhodes and 11-month-old Aaliyah Ellis sent love and hugs to the sky. The two were killed by a speeding driver near 35th Street and the Capitol in October 2017.

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“Even seven years later, it’s still hard,” said aunt Marylin Copeland. “Your wounds never heal because you don’t expect them to.”

The impact caused her vehicle to crash into a district bus. Rhodes and her baby girl died instantly. Another family member in the car survived.

The driver, 22-year-old Reggie Gaston, was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

“It's not [easier]said mother Jackie Rhodes. “I can’t half drive. I’m scared.”

Rhodes said her love for her daughter and grandchild runs deep, even in death. She now looks after the four children she left behind.

“It’s going to be okay, baby. Everything will be okay,” she said. “They go through this all the time. At school, at home, but we talk. It helps, but it doesn’t help.”

Copeland is still grieving the loss of her niece and great-niece and supporting her sister. At the same time, she mourns the loss of her son, who she says was killed just last year.

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“I also lost a son last year, so it’s pretty hard,” Copeland said. “I feel my sister’s pain because you never lost a child. You don’t know the pain.”

In the midst of all this, they want Milwaukee to hear their message.

“Please slow down. Because I see that all the time when I watch the news, it’s just sad.”

Although it will never get easier, the family said they will continue to honor Shakela and Aaliyah.