April 04--When their tiny noses weren't buried in their beloved Dora the Explorer books, the Simpkins sisters followed each other around, a relative said.
The three -- 3-year-old Aliyah, 4-year-old LesLeigh and 6-year-old Rachael -- of North Chicago were inseparable, family said, and whatever one chose to do, the others followed suit.
"Their favorite thing to do was read. Mostly Dora books," said their aunt, Jasimine McDougald, by phone from Augusta, Ga.
And so, they were together about 10 p.m. March 19, about an hour away from arriving at their grandmother's home in North Augusta, S.C., when the car their father Brandon Simpkins was driving crashed on Int. Hwy. 26 in Spartanburg County, S.C.
All three girls and their father died in the fiery wreck, officials said, and two others also died as a result of the crash, which involved an 18-wheeler, an SUV, two cars and a pedestrian. Full details of what happened in the crash were not immediately available.
The last communication from the group came when Brandon Simpkins texted his mother letting her know they were on their way and would be there about 10:30 or 11 p.m.
"They never showed up and they became very worried," said McDougald.
News reports of the crash flooded in and their worst fears were realized when the girls' mother, 28-year-old Dennissia Simpkins called the coroner, said McDougald.
"They didn't have a positive ID yet. They described the height of the people in the car," said McDougald. "She realized it could be her children."
The girls were in the back seat of the vehicle and their father was behind the wheel. McDougald said a woman who was in a "new relationship" with Brandon Simpkins was also in the vehicle.
"They were hit by an 18-wheeler, and there was an explosion," McDougald said.
The girls have one sibling, an 8-year-old brother, who was not in the crash and had been living in another state.
The girls' mother stayed home in north suburban North Chicago and had been shopping for summer clothes for the girls, said McDougald.
Coroner Rusty Clevenger on Monday identified the three children: 3-year-old Aliyah Sarai Vemira Simpkins; 6-year-old Rachael Naomi Simpkins; and 4-year-old LesLeigh Robin Natalie Simpkins.
Clevenger also identified a pedestrian who died as 31-year-old Kollen Edward Stacker of Gaffney, S.C.
Previously, Clevenger had identified two of the victims as the driver of the car carrying the children, 30-year-old Brandon Levoy Robert Simpkins of North Augusta, S.C., and 29-year-old Jermy Sonis Givens-Reedus of North Chicago, a front-seat passenger.
Gripped with grief Friday, McDougald said she does not know how she will be able to live without her nieces.
"I'm devastated."
Services are scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. in North Augusta, S.C.
