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5 Kids Adjusting To Life Without Mom, Killed In Halloween Crash

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Learning to live without a mother -- that's what five kids from Brooklyn Park are dealing with after she was killed in an accident.

Tyan Taylor, 32, died on Halloween, when her vehicle was T-boned at the intersection of Bass Lake Road and Highway 101 in Maple Grove.

Her five kids were waiting for her to come home and take them trick-or-treating, but that never happened.

Her children are: 13-year-old Ty'neijah, 11-year-old Te'ajhae, 9-year-olds Terrance and Terranaye, and 7-year old Tyvion Williams. Like many kids, they like to play video games and get on the computer. But if you look at their faces, you can see the sadness.

"We didn't expect her to die" Ty'neijah said.

The children are trying to adjust to their new normal-- a life without their mother.

"I just remember her smile, and how fun of a parent she was, and how she was always there for us," Ty'neijah said.

She added: "Everything we're used to doing with her, we don't do anymore, so we're just trying to get used to her not being here."

Whether it was sledding down a hill or running a race, Taylor loved being around her children and they loved being around her. She was also strict about the homework--all of the children are honor roll students.

Not only are the children dealing with their mother's death, but their grandmother also recently passed.

"The first thing we all thought was who was going to take care of us now," Ty'neijah said.

Taylor was a manager at Wendy's and was going to college, studying business administration. Her children say they will honor their mother's memory by doing well in school and looking out for each other.

"I miss her saying she loves us and how beautiful we were, and how special we were in her heart," Te'ajhae said.

Taylor's three sisters are taking turns going over to the house and taking care of the children.

On Tuesday, one of sisters has a court appearance to get custody.

As you can imagine, this has been difficult emotionally and financially for the family.

If you would like to help them out, you can donate to the Tyan Taylor benefit fund at any TCF Bank.

Sonya Goins, Producer
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