Young mom and four kids die in fiery crash on way to visit dad — a road trip turned into heartbreaking tragedy
Family trip ends in disaster as loved ones across the country grieve the loss of a joyful mother and her children
A mother and her four children were killed in a tragic car crash on their way to visit the children’s father in Florida — a loss that has shattered two communities and left a grieving husband with an unimaginable void.
On Sunday morning, April 6, 2025, 27-year-old Reagan Dougan was driving from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Florida with her four young children — a 9-year-old boy, a 4-year-old boy, a 2-year-old girl, and a 3-month-old baby. They were headed to see Reagan’s husband, Christian Dougan.
Just before sunrise, around 6 a.m., Reagan’s rented Jeep Cherokee crashed on I-95 South in McIntosh County, Georgia. Authorities say her SUV hit another car at high speed and then slammed into a guardrail. The Jeep burst into flames, killing Reagan and all four children instantly.
Georgia State Troopers say the crash is still under investigation. The other driver survived and was taken to the hospital. The highway was closed for hours while officials worked at the scene.
A mother who lived for her family
Friends and neighbors say Reagan was more than just a mom — she was the heart of her family.
“She always dreamed of being a mother. Her kids were everything to her,” said Christopher “Jonesy” Butler-Jones, a close friend of the family. Fighting back tears, he added, “If you were upset, you could call her, and she’d make you smile again. She saw the bright side of everything.”
Reagan’s love for her children was clear to everyone who knew her. The family had recently moved into a neighborhood in Raleigh, where they were quickly embraced.
“They were always smiling. The kids were outside playing, climbing trees. You could feel the joy coming from that house,” said neighbor Jason Flores.
A family’s grief, a community’s support
Christian Dougan, the children’s father and Reagan’s husband, is now facing the unthinkable — the loss of his entire family in one moment.
Christian’s stepmother, Sarah Stoltman, started a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral costs and to bring the family’s remains to Florida for burial. The fundraiser, which has already raised over $88,000, aims to give Reagan and her children a “dignified farewell.”
“While Christian works with his and Reagan’s family to begin mourning these five beautiful souls, we cannot even fathom the financial burden,” Stoltman wrote on the GoFundMe page.
Outpouring of love and memories
Tributes have poured in from all over — from friends, neighbors, and even strangers touched by the story.
Photographer Katrina Cusatis, who captured maternity photos for Reagan last fall, shared on Facebook, “Their love, joy, and connection were unforgettable. My heart is completely broken.”
Cecily Corinne Borquez, a lifelong friend, posted a childhood photo of her and Reagan. “You were the life of the party… one in a million. How something so tragic could happen to someone so incredible, I’ll never understand.”
Though their lives were cut short, Reagan and her children left behind a legacy of love, laughter, and connection.
“There was a very warm, comforting feeling around her,” said Jonesy. “It gave me hope that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
As people across the country light candles, donate to the fundraiser, or simply say a prayer, that light continues to shine — even through the darkness of this tragedy.
Let’s hold this family in our hearts and remember the joy they brought into the world.
