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Married couple killed crossing Memorial Drive

ATLANTA — Police say a married couple was killed early Saturday in northeast Atlanta while crossing Memorial Drive.

The victims, Danya  Crumbley, 31, and William Crumbley, 33, were crossing Memorial Drive at Hill Street at about 2 a.m. when they were hit by a vehicle.

A family friend spoke to Channel 2's Carl Willis about the family's tragic loss.

"I think that the family wants to have some personal connection to what happened; to be there, to understand to help them deal with what took place," said Dale Preiser.

Atlanta police said the couple was on their way home from a BP gas station when 20-year-old Bryan Butler, of Chicago, crashed into them in the crosswalk. Drugs and alcohol might have been a factor in the accident, police said.

"I think one of the things that impacted the family is the severity of what happened happened last night," Preiser said.

Witnesses said the aftermath of the crash is a sight they won't soon forget. The scene stretches an entire block, Willis said.

Police said Butler was speeding eastbound on Memorial Drive and kept going after hitting the couple.

He lost control at Memorial and Grant Street, where police caught up to him. He and two passengers were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. Witnesses said Butler appeared to be racing another car, a statement that police could not confirm.

Butler, who remains in the Fulton County jail, has been charged with hit and run, homicide by vehicle and reckless driving.

Family friends expressed their sympathy to both the victims and the suspect in the case.

"These are very good families, so my heart just goes out to both of the families and even the young man at this point. I don't know anything about him but if he's a good person this is going to impact him for the rest of his life, too."