TRIBUTES have been paid to a ‘devoted, much-loved family man’ who died after being hit by a car last week while on his way home from his mum’s birthday.
Travis Frost, 20, was involved in a collision while on his bike, travelling from the Broomhill roundabout towards the Cathill roundabout on the A6195, at 9.15pm last Tuesday.
It was his 20th birthday three days earlier, and he was on his way back to see his girlfriend, 19-year-old Abbie Pacey and their eight-month-old son Archie, at their Darfield home after seeing his mum, Karen Kania, on her birthday.
Abbie told the Chronicle: “I’ve known Travis for almost two years and I can honestly say that it’s been the best time of my life.
“I absolutely loved and adored him and he was the best dad you could ask for and he always looked after me - I worshipped the ground he walked on.
“He always said he wouldn’t be a soppy family guy but that’s what he turned into with Archie - he was the most dedicated, caring and selfless dad, Archie was his number one priority.”
The couple had moved into their home just one month prior to the incident, and Abbie reminisced about the first time she met Travis, and how far the pair have come.
“I was living in Sheffield on my own and at the lowest point of my life - I would just wake up, go to work and then go back to sleep,” she added.
“One of my friends came over and introduced him to me and he tried to give me a hug but I just nodded my head at him because of how good looking I thought he was.
“I didn’t want to fall head over heels for him and that’s what I ended up doing anyway - we always used to laugh about that because he thought I was stuck up.”
Two fundraisers were set up following his death, and in total more than £4,000 has been raised - Abbie says the support she has received has been amazing.
“It feels like I’ve had millions of messages from people supporting us, and the neighbours and Archie’s godfather have been trying to shove food down my throat because I’ve not been eating,” she said.
“Trav was a bit of an attention sponge, so the money from one fundraiser will be going towards his send-off - it’s not going to be a sad day as it’ll be a celebration of his life and I can properly say bye to him.
“The other fundraiser will go into a trust fund for Archie that he can open when he’s 18 so he can tell people that his dad bought him his first car or house.
“A lot of people made promises to him and they’re all supporting us and he kept his promise to me of staying with me until the day he dies.”
A 30-year-old man from Barnsley was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, being unfit through drink or drugs, being over the prescribed limit and driving with no insurance.
A 30-year-old woman, also from Barnsley, who was a passenger in the car was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
They have both since been released under investigation.
* To donate to either fundraiser, follow the links on the Barnsley Chronicle’s website.
