Arizona mother ‘distracted’ before fatal crash on US freeway

Two siblings have been killed and a third injured when their mother — who authorities believe was “distracted” — slammed into the back of a tow truck on a busy freeway in the US.

A nine-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl died at the scene. A six-year-old boy also suffered minor injuries.

The children’s mother, 36, was driving a pickup truck that reportedly veered into the other vehicle parked on the side of the Loop 202 freeway in Arizona, in southwestern USA, about 10.15am on Wednesday.

“The force of the impact was such that it not only sheared off the right side of the pickup truck where they were riding but they were killed instantly by the impact,” Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesperson Bart Graves said, reported local media.

“They didn’t have a chance and it’s very sad.”

‘Kids playing loudly’

The children’s mother was taken to hospital but is expected to make a full recovery.

The tow truck driver was uninjured in the crash.

Authorities do not believe she was impaired when the fatal incident occurred and it was simply an accident.

“She may have been distracted by what was going on in the vehicle at the time of the crash,” Graves said.

“As I understand it, it was kids playing loudly, roughhousing in the backseat, or some kind of thing that distracted her from the road.”

The mother has not been charged.

A GoFundMe set has been set up to support the family.

“Tate and Evie, age 9 and 11, were tragically killed on the 202 freeway,” the campaign organiser said.

“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.”