The father of two children killed in a car crash has penned a heartbreaking tribute to them.
On Wednesday (October 23), Tate and Evie Porter died in a collision on the Loop 202 in Mesa, Arizona.
Their mother, Dani Hancock Porter, was behind the wheel of the car at the time. She survived the ordeal but had to be hospitalized.
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Meanwhile, another of Dani's children was in the car and is thought to have come out unharmed.
As to how the crash happened, it's believed that the 36-year-old woman was distracted by her children 'roughhousing' in the back of the vehicle.
Bart Graves, the Arizona Department of Public Safety Public Information Office, told AZFamily: "As I understand it, it was kids playing loudly, roughhousing in the backseat, or some kind of thing that distracted her from the road, from what she told us."
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He added that Tate and Evie would have been 'killed instantly' in the devastating ordeal.
Following their death, their father Ty Porter has taken to Facebook to pay homage to his late son and daughter.
"I will always remember you this way," his tear-jerking post began.
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"You were my whole world. Your kindness, your strength, your ability to make everyone feel welcome, your humor, your smile that can light up the whole room."
The grieving father went on: "I will miss you so dearly. My heart breaks that I cannot wake up to your smiles. That I can’t hear that amazing laugh. That we can’t play catch together. That I can’t cheer you on and coach you from the sidelines any longer. That we can’t have our talks in my truck or answering you many questions about life. Our drives up to Heber to unplug and make memories.
"I will miss that I no longer get tuck you in at night and tell you how proud you make me. I will miss giving you daddy snuggles."
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"I cannot understand how I do this without you with me," Ty added.
"I hope I can always feel you near me. I hope your Mom, brother and sister will feel your love and now we can be together forever again."
In a separate post, Ty asked people to share any memories they have of Evie and Tate, videos and photos included, via email.
Elsewhere a GoFundMe page has been created to help the family. At the time of writing, over $163,000 has been raised.
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If you wish to donate to the fundraiser, you can do so here.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.
Niamh Shackleton