Luke Mulford, 29, and his daughter, Magnolia Mulford, 4. Submitted photo

The Butler man killed in a fatal crash Wednesday, Aug. 12, in Mercer County left behind a 4-year-old daughter and wife, according to his mother.

Luke Mulford, 29, spent all of his free time with his daughter when he wasn’t at work, working outside or fixing up a car, according to his mother, Stacy Mulford.

“She’s definitely a daddy’s girl,” she said about Luke’s daughter, Magnolia Mulford. “They were together all the time.”

Luke Mulford was driving a 2007 Audi A4 when he was struck by a 2017 Jeep Renegade driven by Sandra Marwick, 68, after she crossed into the opposite lane. Marwick lost control of the vehicle she was operating after being sideswiped by Aric Abrams, 47, of Clarks Mills, authorities said.

Mulford and Marwick were pronounced dead at the scene from blunt force trauma. The manner of death was ruled homicide.

“We’re devastated. This is out of the blue,” Stacy Mulford said. “One minute he’s there, then the next minute, he’s gone.”

Luke Mulford was on his way to the scrap yard looking for a part to fix his car when he was struck, his mother said. His day job was working as a manger at Taco Bell.

“He had so many plans for the future,” his mother said. “Now that’s all gone. He was such a great guy.”

Stacy Mulford said her son was active as a child playing baseball and soccer and doing yard work. She said when he wasyoung, he potty-trained himself in less than a week because that’s what it took to enroll in a Head Start program.

Her son grew up to become the sole provider for his family and had been married to his wife, Alexis, for five years.

Stacy Mulford said her family is spending a lot of time together after her son’s death. Luke Mulford had seven siblings, including some in the military, so she was not sure when the family would be together for a funeral.

Luke Mulford’s sister, Belle Mulford, started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the cost of his autopsy, funeral service and burial, according to the fundraiser. It raised $140 in its first 15 hours.