Sunday afternoon in Milwaukee started like any other for 38-year-old Latasha Terice Campbell and her partner, 39-year-old Jeremiah A. Jefferies — familiar hometown streets, a small errand, and the warmth of their beloved dog riding shotgun. But by dusk, everything had changed. The couple and their dog had perished when their SUV collided with a tree near the intersection of Appleton and Fairmount avenues, caught fire, and claimed their lives and beloved pet.
The crash occurred just before 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 16, on the city’s northwest side. According to the Milwaukee Fire Department, the vehicle — an SUV — was already engulfed when first responders arrived and noted the driver and passenger had both died at the scene. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the victims as Latasha Campbell and Jeremiah Jefferies.
Friends say Campbell and Jefferies were headed out to drop off Jeremiah’s young son when the crash occurred. “Nobody thinks it’s real,” said longtime friend Betty Goner as family members gathered in the St. Joseph neighborhood that evening. “We have such lively people, and they’re just gone. And it was just so tragic the way they had to go.” The couple also had a daughter (Campbell) and a daughter and son (Jefferies), making the loss that much deeper for their young family.
A witness living near the scene described the chaotic aftermath: “They were trapped in the car, and there was a lot of smoke and everything,” said Nyrel Smith. He added this wasn’t the first time he had watched high-speed vehicles duel through his grandmother’s street. “There’s a lot of speeding. Especially in the summertime, they treat it like a racetrack.” Investigators are still working to determine exactly what caused the crash — whether speed, vehicle malfunction or something else — though they confirmed neither occupant was wearing a seatbelt.
Described by neighbors as a joyful, warm-hearted pair, Campbell and Jefferies loved their dog, danced among friends, and treated their home like a hub of life and laughter. Their sudden removal from that rhythm shocked the tight-knit St. Joseph community. Neighbors say the intersection where the crash occurred has long been problematic, with calls for speed enforcement going unanswered. One resident told CBS 58: “For it to be right outside our house, it’s dangerous. We don’t feel safe and it’s just really sad.”
As candles and condolence cards begin to appear outside their home, the family — and an entire neighborhood — are grappling with how to honor two young lives lost too soon and a pet gone in the fire. Plans for a celebration of life are still being organized. Staff at the medical examiner’s office say they’ll release a final report after toxicology and autopsy results.
In the days ahead, friends and family hope the broader community will heed this reminder: what may feel like “a short cut” or “an extra burst of speed” can lead to a lasting void. Campbell and Jefferies’ memory will live on in their children’s laughter, their community’s stories, and a commitment to keep streets safer — so the next young pair heading out for a simple errand don’t wind up vanishing from a home and from so many hearts.
