PHOENIX — "This just wasn't something that we were asking for Christmas at all," Tom Oviatt Jr. said, standing in front of his parents' house.
The rest of his family was there — two sisters and a cousin. A Phoenix police officer also came to pay his respects at the house... a house that's now empty.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: 'Todo lo que hizo fue para ayudar a la gente': Accidente mata a ex oficial de policía de Phoenix y a su esposa
"To lose your parents instantly," Oviatt said, "I was always proud because I was like, I'm 57 years old, I still have my mom and dad."
But not anymore.
Tom Oviatt Sr. and his wife Janette Oviatt were killed Tuesday in a crash just outside the entrance to their neighborhood near the intersection of 43rd and Dunlap avenues.
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Phoenix police said a speeding driver hit the Oviatt's car as they tried to turn left. Investigators are still determining how fast the car was going but said the driver was not impaired.
Tom was 80, Janette was 79. They were enjoying retirement after a lifetime of service.
Tom Oviatt Sr. was an Army veteran and a 21 year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department. He started as a beat cop, his son said, and ended as a beat cop on purpose. He wanted to stay connected with the community on the ground.
"Everything he did was about helping people," Tom said. "If you needed help, he wanted to help you. And being a police officer was a perfect avenue for that."
Now, Tom and his two sisters are left with an empty house and an empty hole in their lives at Christmas. All because someone was in a hurry.
"You want to get there," Tom said through tears, "just slow down... you'll get there."
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