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Pollitt family: Mom, sister of man killed alongside fiance, three children thank NKY community

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INDEPENDENCE, Ky. -- A northern Kentucky family is coping with the loss of five family members weeks after a fatal, head-on crash. 

But family members of Rodney Pollitt, Samantha Malohn and their three children say they’re trying to make the best of something that took so much from them.

Rodney Pollitt Jr., 26; Samantha Malohn, 27; Hailieann Pollitt, 9; Brenden Pollitt, 8 and Callie Pollitt, 6, all died in an Oct. 26 crash on a windy, Independence road.

RELATED: Police: Five family members, including 3 kids, killed in Independence crash

Police said Daniel Greis, 57, was driving westbound on Staffordsburg Road when he went left of center and hit the Pollitts' Honda Accord.

The community has responded in a big way; Independence firefighters organized a benefit for the family less than a week after the horrific  crash.

Rodney’s mother, Nancy Dishman, said the outpour of support is a testament to the love their family has for one another.

“It just shows how much love that Rodney and Samantha had for each other, their family, love the people had for them,” she said.

Dishman said she is thankful for the family she has found in her community at a time where she has lost so much.

“It means everything to us,” Dishman said. “I mean, we couldn't say thank you to everyone that has done so much.”

Cheyenne Pollitt, Rodney’s sister, said it’s the little things that make a difference amid this tragedy.

“We've had so many people come up to us and you know offer hugs and call and text and just the littlest things,” she said.

Sean Barth was one of the first to arrive at the scene of the crash.

“It has definitely hit the hearts of everybody in the area,” Barth said.

Firefighter Kenny Harney said he felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness when he arrived at the scene shortly after the crash, so he is thankful for the chance to give back to the family.”  

“We couldn't help in the moment, but now that we have the ability after the fact to help this family and other kids in the Grant County school system, you can't put a price on that,” Harney said.

Dishman has a message for the community that has become more like family over the last few weeks.

“I want to thank everyone and you know just for everything, especially the Independence fire station for everything that they've done and they did and they went through we love you guys, thank you,” she said.

The fundraiser will take place at 6 p.m. on Nov. 18 at St. Barbara Church in Erlanger. Volunteers will auction off items to raise money for the family’s funeral expenses and to set up a scholarship fund for Grant County Schools. The scholarship will benefit children with Down syndrome in honor of 9-year-old Hailieann. Smokin’ This and That BBQ will provide food for the fundraiser; an $8 donation buys one plate of food.

If you’d like to donate, you can make a check out to Independence Firefighters Local 3945. You can mail the check to PO Box 564 Independence, Ky., or you can drop the check off at Independence Fire Station 1 at 1980 Delaware Crossing.