Account for kids who lost parents in crash raises nearly $500K

SARASOTA (FOX 13) - A GoFundMe account set up by a Georgia state trooper has raised nearly half a million dollars for four children who tragically lost their parents in a traffic crash Halloween night.

Donald and Crystal Howard left their Newborn, Georgia home Oct. 31 to buy face paint and candy for their children. They never returned home.

Trayvion, 6, Daimean, 8, Amiah, 10 and Justin, 13, are now living with their grandmother in Sarasota.

"I just hope they don't let this bring them down," aunt Sharlee Dismuke said. "I hope they get into their sports, they do good in school. (I hope) they find things to do with their life and things like that, so that's just what I really pray on."

Dismuke said they are getting the kids enrolled in school, and they're grateful for the donations that now top $450,000.

"I don't know how much to thank them, but one day I'll figure it out," she said.

Dismuke said the younger children haven't grasped exactly what happened to their parents.

"I don't really think they understand they're gone forever," Dismuke said.

Family members have prioritized funds raised from the GoFundMe account. Dismuke said it will be split between each child to pay for clothing, education and life necessities.

"We have it set so they'll have money they can't touch until they're 18," she said.

The family will also explore moving into a larger home because the house they're currently living in cannot accommodate four extra children.

Click here to visit the GoFundMe account set up for the family.