‘This Is A Crazy Tragedy’: Arizona Mom, 2 Teen Kids Killed In Crash By Carjacker Fleeing Robbery

The friends and family of an Arizona mother and her two children who were killed by a robbery suspect in a stolen vehicle last week are reeling from their tragic deaths.

Courtney Lonergan, 45, her son, Ali Greer, and daughter, Almira Geer, 16, were killed in a fatal multi-car collision in Phoenix on June 10, according to authorities. The driver, Raymond Montgomery, 33, struck the family after allegedly stealing a woman’s SUV.

“This is a crazy tragedy. We lost three members of our community in some freak accident,” Joey Gretcher, Lonergan’s best friend, told KPNX. “This is a massive loss for our community."

On Thursday, Phoenix police received reports of suspected carjacking of a dark blue Cadillac SRX at the intersection of 7th and Missouri Avenues. The driver, later identified as Montgomery, allegedly flew through a red light attempting to flee the scene, ultimately slamming into Lonergan’s white Honda Civic, killing her and the two teenagers.

According to the Phoenix Police Department, the Cadillac had been traveling at a speed of roughly 97 miles per hour “seconds before the collision.” The car was estimated to be traveling at 78 miles per hour immediately prior to the moment of impact.

Ali Greer and Almira Greer were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Their mother was transported to the hospital where she later died, according to AZFamily.

The SUV’s owner was able to safely exit her vehicle prior to the wreck.

Five vehicles were reportedly involved in the multi-vehicle pile-up, according to KPNX.

The family’s Honda struck a Dodge pickup truck occupied by a 38-year-old driver and child passenger. The truck then hit a city bus operated by a 59-year-old driver. Only two passengers were aboard at the time, according to officials. 

Montgomery later struck a pedestrian at a crosswalk and collided with a Chevrolet Malibu sitting at a red light. He confessed to operating the Cadillac and was also positively identified by the robbery’s victim. 

Montgomery was also allegedly intoxicated at the time of the collision. Authorities suspect he was using marijuana and PCP. No one else was seriously injured in the incident. 

Ali Geer and Almira Geer attended Central High School, the outlet reported. 

“Life is short for all of us,” Gretcher added. “Love your people. Love your family. Reach out. Love them.”

A GoFundMe campaign for the family had raised more than $75,846 as of Wednesday. The three are survived by Lonergan's youngest child, 14-year-old Aracelli Greer.

"Three innocent beautiful lives were tragically taken," the GoFundMe page states. 

Montgomery faces an assortment of charges, including three counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of endangerment, as well as robbery, and theft by means of transportation charges.

Additional charges possible, pending Montgomery’s toxicology results. Montgomery was released from the hospital on Friday. He is being held on a $2 million bond, according to online jail records. His attorney information wasn’t immediately available. Montgomery was scheduled to appear in court earlier this week.