MESA, Arizona. (KPHO/Gray News) – Two children died in a crash on a busy highway in Arizona.

According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the collision occurred around 10:15 a.m. Wednesday in the westbound lanes of Loop 202 (Red Mountain) near McKellips Road.

A mother and her three children were in a pickup truck when they crashed into a tow truck on the side of the highway at significant speed, DPS spokesman Bart Graves said.

A 9-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl who were in the pickup truck died at the scene, according to Graves.

The third child, 6 years old, was slightly injured.

“The force of the impact was so great that not only did they cut off the right side of the pickup truck they were riding in, but they also died instantly from the impact,” Graves said. “They didn’t have a chance and that’s very sad.”

The tow truck driver escaped uninjured in the accident.

However, the children’s 36-year-old mother was also hospitalized.

“He may have been distracted by what was going on in the vehicle at the time of the accident,” Graves said. “From what I understand it was kids playing loudly, being rowdy in the backseat, or some type of thing that distracted him from the road.”

Graves said the troopers do not believe he was disabled at the time of the crash.

“Slow down, pay attention. “If you have a child, don’t get distracted by stuff in your car,” Graves said. “Stay off the phone. Never drive while drunk or tired.”

The crash closed the highway’s westbound lanes for approximately six hours.

Authorities said the mother is not currently facing criminal charges; however, he may be charged with a misdemeanor of distracted driving.

A. GoFundMe It has since been established to help the family.

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