DETROIT, MI (WJBK) - A mother of three was killed in a devastating crash over the weekend after being thrown from a car while on her way to her daughter's cheerleading competition.
40-year-old Danette Robertson, a mother of three from Romulus, was killed in the Saturday car accident while she was headed to a cheer competition in Warren. She was going to cheer on her 15-year-old daughter, Jenna, and her team from Woodhaven High School.
"She's the mother of my children. I loved her to death and I get the news and just telling my daughters - it just hurt - it hurt," her ex-husband, Mike Matyaszek, said.
"Her kids were everything to her. She would do double shifts at the nursing home and then she would leave there to go to my little cousin's cheer competitions and stuff and she was always there," her nephew, Robert Sherman, said.
Michigan State Police say Danette was northbound on I-75 at Outer Drive in Lincoln Park. She was a passenger in the car when the driver lost control and rolled the car. Danette was ejected and died at the scene.
The driver was treated for minor injuries. Police say alcohol was not a factor but also said neither Danette or the driver were wearing seatbelts. Just days before Christmas, the family is crushed.
"I don't want to ruin their Christmas but you know, it's going to be a sad Christmas," Matyaszek said.
A sad Christmas for 22-year-old Nathan, 18-year-old Dana, and 15-year-old Jenna, as well as Danette's mother, Jo-Ann. Another cheer mom is trying to help and has set up GoFundMe page - which has already raised almost $10,000 for the family.
The family still needs help. Click here to donate.