Child orphaned after parents die minutes apart in separate crashes ​

A Heartbreaking Tragedy in Louisiana: Engaged Couple Dies Hours Apart, Leaving Behind Their Young Son and Grieving Family

In a devastating tale that has left a community in mourning across Louisiana, Alexus Lee and John “JR” Collins—an engaged couple full of hope and dreams—tragically lost their lives just hours apart on the early morning of Friday, May 16. Their sudden deaths in separate car accidents have shattered their family and left their 4-year-old son, Gabriel, without both parents.

Just under a year ago, Alexus Lee joyfully shared a milestone on Facebook: celebrating her 25th birthday and announcing her engagement to JR Collins, 35.

“I love you through good and bad times, through thick and thin,” she wrote on June 7, her excitement shining through as she showed off her dazzling new engagement ring. “I can’t wait to be your lifelong partner!!!! Mrs. Collins to be BABBY.”

The heartfelt post was met with an outpouring of love and congratulations from family and friends, all eager to celebrate the couple, who were already devoted parents to their little boy, Gabriel.

Filled with dreams of their future, Alexus and JR had just purchased their first home and were joyfully planning a wedding for February 2026—a new chapter they were eager to begin together.

But fate had a cruel twist in store.

The Tragic Night

In the early hours of May 16, around 2 a.m., Alexus Lee, a recent graduate of Southern University and a dedicated teacher at East Feliciana STEAM Academy, was driving on LA-67 in East Baton Rouge Parish. Her SUV suddenly veered off the road, striking a culvert before overturning.

Louisiana State Police confirmed that Alexus, who was not wearing a seatbelt, died instantly at the scene.

Officials are awaiting toxicology results to determine whether impairment was a factor, but for now, the cause remains unclear.

According to reports from WAFB 9, it was JR Collins himself who received the devastating call informing him that his fiancée had been in a terrible accident.

Collins’ Final Moments

Devastated by the news of Alexus’s accident, John “JR” Collins raced to be by her side—only for tragedy to strike again.

Just before 3:45 a.m., police say Collins was driving south at a dangerously high speed when his 2016 Chevrolet Camaro failed to negotiate a turn. The car slammed into a tree, and Collins was tragically ejected from the vehicle. He sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Like Alexus, Collins was not wearing a seatbelt.

A truck driver by profession—just like Lee’s late father—JR’s life ended suddenly, leaving a void in the hearts of those who loved him.

Remembering a Light That Could Not Be Dimmed

Friends and family flooded social media with messages of sorrow and disbelief, mourning a love lost far too soon.

“Saying goodbye this soon feels so wrong,” wrote one friend alongside photos from the funeral. “He had the sweetest soul anyone could meet. I’m sorry we didn’t get more time with you. I already miss that smile that could light up a whole room—an energy that was truly unmatched.”

Another friend shared, “You had the most lively smile and spirit—I still can’t fathom it’s gone.”

Collins’ sister shared a heartfelt tribute:
“You were the best, and I’m going to miss you terribly. They just don’t make them like you anymore. Rest easy and keep watching over my brother up there—we’ve got Gabe down here.”

Alexus’s colleagues also mourned her loss. One teacher wrote, “People often talk about the impact teachers have on students, but rarely do we acknowledge how much our students mean to us. Baby girl, your light will be deeply missed.”

Two Families Unite for Gabriel

As the community grieves, the two families have come together to support their beloved 4-year-old Gabriel, now facing life without his parents.

“He understands what happened,” Collins’ mother, Sandra, told WAFB through tears. “He’s still trying to grasp that we can’t talk to them or see them anymore. But he knows they’re at peace, sleeping with God.”

Despite the heartbreak, Sandra emphasized the strength of their combined family: “Even though we lost them both, we have a strong support system. Our two families will blend, and we will do everything possible to give Gabriel a good life.”

Collins’ father, Arthur, added, “I love them both and I’m going to miss them. But I will find the strength to keep going—for Gabriel’s sake.”

“He loved Alexus deeply, just as everyone who knew her did. To know her was truly to love her,” Sandra added, her voice heavy with sorrow.

In the span of just a few hours, two vibrant lives—filled with love, dreams, and hopes for the future—were tragically taken. Now, their precious little boy Gabriel is left without the two people who meant the world to him.

Yet, in the midst of this unimaginable loss, Gabriel stands as a living testament to their unbreakable bond—two souls intertwined, their love enduring even in the face of tragedy.

We invite you to share your thoughts on this heartbreaking story, and please share it with your friends so their voices and memories can join ours in honoring Alexus and JR’s legacy.