Memorial service held in Bridgeport for 9 family members killed in FL crash
The victims - all members of the same family - were on their way to the airport after celebrating a relative's 80th birthday when the crash happened.
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Hundreds of mourners filled the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport Thursday morning to attend a memorial service for three of the nine people killed in a single-vehicle crash in Florida two weeks ago - though speakers at the service paid tribute to all the victims.
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Pamela Wiggins, 56, 30-year-old Leiana Alyse Hall and 5-year-old Kamdien Edwards were remembered as "good and loving spirits who left this earth too soon."
The victims - all members of the same family - were on their way to the airport after celebrating a relative's 80th birthday when the crash happened.
The overloaded the SUV the family was traveling in careened off the road and flipped over, before coming to rest in a canal, police said.
A 10th family member survived the accident.
"It is so important to support this beautiful family as they endure unimaginable grief and suffering," said state Sen. Herron Gaston, who is also a pastor to several of the victims and their loved ones.
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"This is a moment to band together, in unity and love, to let this amazing family know they are not alone -- and that they'll not be alone once all the attention surrounding this tragedy dissipates. We will be there for all of them, indefinitely," Gaston said.
"That's what families do - and we're a family," he said.
