An engaged couple from Baton Rouge tragically lost their lives in separate car accidents just hours apart, leaving their 4-year-old son, Gabriel, without parents.
Alexus Lee, 25, and her fiancé, John “JR” Collins, 35, had recently purchased a home in preparation for their February 2026 wedding when both were involved in fatal crashes less than two hours apart early Friday morning.
According to Louisiana State Police, Lee was driving northbound on LA 67 near Lemon Road in Zachary when she lost control of her Toyota Highlander shortly after 2 a.m.
Her SUV collided with a culvert and overturned. The mother of one and STEAM Academy teacher in Clinton tragically died at the scene.
When authorities informed her fiancé, Collins, he headed toward the crash site. However, on the way, he lost control of his Chevrolet Camaro.
Police report that Collins was driving southbound on LA 67 near Idlewild Road around 3:45 a.m. when he failed to navigate a curve, veered off the left side of the road, and crashed into a tree. He also died at the scene.
