A horrific accident in Arizona has claimed the lives of two young children following a high-speed car crash.
On Wednesday, October 23, Tate and Evie were passengers in a vehicle driven by their mother, Dani Hancock Porter, along with another sibling, when the tragic incident occurred.
The journey took a devastating turn on the Loop 202 in Mesa, Arizona, when Dani collided with a tow truck. This crash resulted in the deaths of nine-year-old Tate and eleven-year-old Evie.
Fortunately, the other child in the vehicle was reportedly unharmed, although Dani, aged 36, required hospitalization.
Following the devastating event, Bart Graves of the Arizona Department of Public Safety Public Information Office shared with AZFamily that the impact was so severe that Tate and Evie were “killed instantly.”
He stated: “Suffice to say, the force of the impact was such that it not only sheared off the right side of this pickup truck where they were riding, but they were killed instantly by the force of this impact. They didn’t have a chance, and it’s very sad.”
Graves also provided insight into the children’s final moments, describing how they had been ‘roughhousing’ prior to the fatal crash.
He elaborated to the news outlet: “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.”
In response to the tragedy, officials have emphasized the importance of remaining focused while driving, despite potential distractions from children.
Jesse Torrez, director of the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, advised on ABC affiliate KNXV-TV: “Even if you’re looking straight ahead, but your peripheral goes to the right, you have a tendency [to] start to drift left or right. This poor woman just happened to drift to the right.”
“And had she drifted either two seconds after she did, she probably would have missed that tow truck.”
A GoFundMe page has been established by a family friend to support the family after Tate and Evie’s untimely deaths. While the initial goal was set at $20,000, the campaign has successfully raised over $163,000.
Roxie Heussner, who organized the page, wrote: “Tate and Evie, age 9 and 11, were tragically killed on the 202 freeway in Arizona today, October 23, 2024, in a car accident. Their parents and siblings are now not only having to face life without two of their children, but a mound of medical and funeral bills just years after one of their children went through a long course of cancer treatment.”
“I know not everyone is in a position to give, but if you can, please help. And if you can’t give monetarily, please uplift this family in thoughts and prayers as they face this unimaginable tragedy.”
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends at (877) 969-0010.