PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Loved ones and community members gathered Friday evening in Southwest Philadelphia to remember Talyia Nesmith, the woman who was killed getting out of a rideshare car early Monday.
A sea of blue and white balloons covered Elmwood Avenue near 73rd Street, the intersection where Nesmith, 29, lost her life Monday.
Her younger sister Mikyia Thomas said her mother was too heartbroken to come, but thanked the crowd for showing up.
“She had so much loyalty for everybody, no matter who. She loved the elderly, the disabled,” she recalled. “She had love for everyone and for this to have happened to her in the city that she loved so much, it just doesn't make sense.”
Nesmith got out of a vehicle around 3:30 a.m. on July 27 and was attempting to cross the street when a speeding Dodge Charger Hellcat struck her, according to authorities.
Police located the vehicle in Upper Darby on Wednesday and confirmed the Dodge was stolen on Monday, an hour before Nesmith was killed.
Family members spoke about her bubbly personality and fun spirit before releasing the balloons into the sky.
“When you walked in, she was just a joy to see, so it's definitely a huge loss to our family,” said relative Erica Butts. “I'm mad that she's not here to see her party because she always tells everybody, like, ‘The city loves me.’”
Nesmith’s cousin Jiciana Knight said she was getting ready for nursing school and spoke out to the driver, who is still at large.
“You hit her, and you kept going,” she said. “Stop. That would be so much better than hiding cars, trying to evade the police. Just give yourself up. God don't like ugly.”
