Warrawong mum Katerina Coughlan is struggling to come to terms with the fact her twin babies will never get to know their dad.
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Her partner Daniel Merrett was killed in a bizarre shooting incident that ended in a crash at Albion Park Rail early Saturday morning.
Daniel was on his way home when the vehicle he was a passenger in slammed into a petrol tanker.
"From the first time I met Daniel I knew there was going to be something special between us, then along came our beautiful twins," Ms Coughlan told the Mercury three days after the horror crash.
"Daniel meant the world to me and the girls, he showed them so much love," she said.
"He loved his coffee and smokes, he needed them in the morning before he could start his day.
"Other than his family, coffee and smokes he loved to have a bet on the dogs, horses and play the odd game of poker."
He has three more children who are facing the prospect of life without their dad.
"Even when he was sick they made him smile," Ms Coghlan said, referring to his terminal illness.
"I loved Daniel so deeply and he meant the world to me. I don't know how I'm going to go on without him."
Mr Merrett's sister was driving the car when the Triple 0 call was made.
Police sources say he stayed on the line during the ordeal as his vehicle tried to outrun the shooter.
Mr Merrett also called his younger brother Jordyn Clulow saying he was in trouble.
"He didn't say much, just that he was in trouble and then he hung up," Jordyn said.
That was around 1.30am. The car crashed less than an hour later.
Jordyn told the Mercury his brother and sister, who was driving the car, and their cousin a passenger, were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"He wasn't involved in anything to do with the gun fire," Jordyn insisted.
"This had nothing to do with him and now we have got a dead brother on our hands."
The boys were part of a "brotherhood, not a gang" who live by the code "My Brother's Keepers".
"He was loyal to a fault. He would take care of anyone, now his children don't have a Dad." .