Family of cousins killed in crash: 'This hit us to our soul'

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A relative of two men who died in a violent crash says it has devastated his family.

DeKalb County police suspect street racing was involved in the deadly crash on Interstate 285 over the weekend.

Albert Culmer say his two nephews, who were both killed in the crash, were inseparable.

"They were so close that one couldn't live in this world without the other," he said.

Culmer says Marshall Hill, 31, and Phillip Smith, 32, were cousins, but were close like brothers.

"They grew up together. They were best of friends and they died together," Culmer said.

Hill and Smith both died when police say a Camaro clipped their car, causing them to lose control and crash on 285 near Moreland Avenue Saturday.

"This has hit us to our soul," Culmer said.

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Mariah Page, 22, was in the Camaro and was also killed. The driver of that car, Kane Danger, 35, could face charges. He was hospitalized.

Police are looking into whether the two cars were street racing. Officers say speed was a factor.

Culmer says that's not his concern right now.

"I have faith in the police department that's going to reconstruct (the crash) and I'll let them do that and wherever the chips fall, that's where the chips fall," he said.

Culmer did point out that Danger's Camaro clipped his nephew's car, causing it to lose control.

He said he just wants people to know his nephews were special, and he said no matter what the investigation reveals, his family will still be devastated.

"You're looking at two mothers that lost a son. You're looking at two wives that lost a husband. You're looking at four children that lost their fathers," he said.

An accident reconstruction team is working to determine what actually happened during the crash.

Culmer's family will hold two funerals Saturday. Both men will be laid to rest during the same service. Each man leaves behind a wife and two children.

Cox Media Group