Heartbreaking tragedy explained.
An unimaginable nightmare unfolded in Baton Rouge, claiming the lives of a young engaged couple, leaving their toddler son parentless.
Shocking double tragedy detailed.
Alexus Lee, 25, and her fiancé, John “JR” Collins, 35, died early Friday morning in eerily similar solo-car wrecks on the same stretch of Louisiana highway.
Lee lost control of her Toyota Highlander around 2 a.m., crashing into a culvert on LA 67. She died at the scene. Just over an hour later, Collins crashed on his way to her.
Police say Collins was rushing to Lee’s crash site when he too lost control—his Camaro hitting a tree just before 4 a.m. He was pronounced dead on impact.
Louisiana State Police confirmed both Lee and Collins were not wearing seatbelts at the time of their crashes. Investigations into both incidents remain active.
Just days before the tragedy, the couple had purchased a new home together and were planning a wedding for February 2026. They were full of hope.
Son’s grief clarified.
The couple’s son, Gabriel Collins, was left orphaned in the span of two hours. The 4-year-old now lives with extended family, struggling to understand the loss.
“He understands what happened,” said Sandra Collins, Gabriel’s grandmother. “He’s having a little problem comprehending… but he knows they are with God.”
“He loved Alexus as well as everybody else who knew her,” Sandra Collins added. “To know her was to love her.” Their romance had been whirlwind, but deep.
Dominique Lee, Alexus’ sister, said, “Losing Lexus is just different. It’s like I know a part of me gone.” Her voice trembled as she recalled her sister’s smile.
Couple’s story highlighted.
A recent graduate of Southern University, Alexus taught at the STEAM Academy in Clinton. She was passionate, driven, and beloved by students and colleagues.
John “JR” Collins drove trucks for a living and had a known love for fast cars. But his proudest role was as a father to Gabriel, family members said.
“I love them and I’m gonna miss both of them,” said John’s father, Arthur Collins. “And I’m gonna find the strength to go ahead.”
Photos show Alexus proudly displaying her engagement ring. The couple had just moved into their new home in Baton Rouge, decorating Gabriel’s room together.
Lee and Collins met through mutual friends in 2019 and bonded over their love of family. “They were inseparable,” said a close family friend.
“They poured everything into that little boy,” said a neighbor. “Every cookout, every game night—Gabriel was always with them. That boy was their heart.”
“They talked about building generational wealth,” said a cousin. “Buying that house was the start of their plan. They wanted more than a wedding—they wanted roots.”
“She’d say JR wasn’t just the man she’d marry—he was her peace,” Dominique recalled. “And he felt the same. You could see it in how he looked at her.”
Details of investigation unveiled.
Police believe Collins may have been speeding as he rushed toward the crash site to reach his fiancée. His Camaro failed to navigate a curve and slammed into a tree.
Both crashes happened on LA 67, just miles apart. Locals are calling it “a cursed morning.” The couple died alone but deeply connected—within 100 minutes.
“It went from one call to another,” said Arthur Collins. “You think you’re going to mourn one, and then—boom—you lose both.”
Crash scene reconstructions are underway. No signs of drugs or alcohol were found, but the roads were reportedly slick that night.
Toddler’s future debated.
“Even though they left a child behind, we have a great support system,” Arthur said. “The two families will blend… we’ll do whatever it takes for Gabriel.”
A joint celebration of life is scheduled, honoring both Lee and Collins together. The families said they “wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”
Their parents stood side-by-side for media interviews, united by pain but determined to honor their children’s memory by raising their grandson with love.
Sandra Collins said they’re focused on helping Gabriel heal: “We just want him to remember their love, not their loss. That’s our job now.”
The story has gone viral locally. Flowers have been laid at the crash sites. Former students have posted tributes online with #RIPMissLee.
“They were just starting,” said Dominique. “That’s what hurts the most. Everything was ahead of them—wedding, home, Gabriel starting school. Gone in a blink.”
Officials confirmed no external causes—just devastating twists of fate, on the same road, on the same night. “Sometimes life makes no sense,” Arthur said.
Gabriel’s story is now one of resilience.
The families have started a support fund for Gabriel, who will now grow up surrounded by cousins, aunties, and grandparents—all holding tight to his parents’ memory.
Yes, in the early hours of a Friday morning, two separate crashes on the same Louisiana highway orphaned a child and broke two families—just 100 minutes apart.
Gabriel Collins will grow up knowing his parents died trying to reach each other. A love story turned tragedy, sealed by fate and two separate trees.