A GoFundMe page has acquired thousands of euros in donations for a family left devastated by a crash that occurred on Monday afternoon.
The page is nearing €10,000 after being set up just days ago to help with the costs associated with a tragic accident that left two members of the family dead and five in hospital.
Father-of-four Patrick Rogers, who was from the Cookstown area, was the driver of one of two vehicles involved in the collision on December 26.
READ MORE: Tributes pour in for mum-of-two who died in Stephen's Day motorway crash
Mr Rogers’ mother-in-law, Mary Duffy, from Dungannon was a passenger in his car and was also killed in the crash which happened on a stretch of the A29 Dungannon Road, close to Cookstown.
Mr Rogers, who was just 26 years old, and Mrs Duffy, 52, were travelling in a red Nissan X-Trail, which was in collision with another vehicle shortly before 3.30 pm.
80-year-old Jennifer Elizabeth Acheson also died in the collision - she was the driver of a silver Volkswagen Golf.
Mr Rogers’ wife and their four children, who were passengers in the Nissan X-Trail, were injured in the collision and remain in hospital but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Police along with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) and Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, attended the scene on Monday afternoon.
The NIAS said it sent two rapid response paramedics, four emergency crews, and one non-emergency crew, while the air ambulance team was also called out.
"Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, four patients were taken to Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and another patient was taken by ambulance to the Royal Victoria Hospital," a NIAS spokesman said
One local resident, who lives close to the scene, reported hearing "an almighty bang" while he was watching television at around 3.30 pm and looked out the window to see that the two vehicles had collided.
In the aftermath of the accident, a friend of the family set up a Go Fund Me page and said “Our community is devastated to hear of the loss of Patrick Rodger’s and Mary Duffy”.
The organisers then wrote: “Shannon Duffy Rodger, a childhood friend of ours has lost her mother and husband at the age of 26 and is left with four children who are now in the royal hospital receiving treatment.
“We felt that raising money to help with funeral costs or just to help Shannon in any way is the least we could do.
“As a community and people we feel helpless so anything we can do, I think we should.
“Any bit of kindness is appreciated.”
Sinn Fein's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill expressed her deepest sympathies to the families of those killed in her Mid-Ulster constituency.
"It is deeply tragic news to learn that three adults have been killed and a woman and four children injured as a result of this terrible road traffic collision in Co Tyrone," she said.
"I offer my heartfelt sympathies to the families of those tragically killed and every best wish to those injured for a full and speedy recovery."
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson tweeted: "Our thoughts & prayers are with all involved in this tragic incident and the families & communities impacted by such a devastating loss.
"We also think of the emergency services who attended the scene and the health service staff caring for those injured."
If you would like to donate to the Go Fund Me page you can do so by clicking here.
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