As loved ones across two states reel from the devastating news, a grieving widower in Georgia is left to face the unthinkable—he has lost his entire family, including his wife and four young children, in a tragic car accident.
Car crashes are always frightening, but when they claim lives, they become almost unbearable. The story of the Dougan family is one such heart-shattering tragedy that defies comprehension.
On the early morning of Sunday, April 6, 2025, 27-year-old Reagan Dougan was driving with her children—a 3-month-old baby, a 4-year-old son, a 2-year-old daughter, and a 9-year-old boy—along I-95 South in McIntosh County, Georgia. It was around 6 a.m., and like many families on a road trip, their car likely echoed with playful chaos and laughter—a symbol of togetherness.
But in an instant, everything changed. Reagan’s rented SUV collided with another vehicle. Her Jeep Cherokee caught fire, and the crash claimed the lives of Reagan and all four of her children at the scene.
They had been en route to Florida, where Reagan planned to reunite with her husband, Christian.
Authorities later confirmed that Reagan had rented the SUV in Raleigh, North Carolina, to make the trip. According to Georgia State Trooper Christopher Ashdown, the SUV was speeding when it slammed into the back of a white Infiniti sedan. A witness reported seeing the vehicle hit the median before it erupted in flames.
The other driver survived and was transported to the hospital. Investigators closed the highway for four hours to examine the scene and are continuing to look into the cause of the accident.
“A truly loving and kind soul”
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through both the Florida community they were visiting and the neighborhood in Raleigh, where the family had recently moved.
Christopher “Jonesy” Butler-Jones, a close friend of the family, spoke emotionally with WTVD, saying through tears, “I’m still in disbelief. Her husband lost everything—his whole world. It’s beyond heartbreaking.”
He described Reagan as a mother deeply committed to her children—someone whose greatest ambition was to build a loving, joyful family. “That was her dream, to raise a beautiful family and be the best mom she could be. Her kids were her entire world.”
But Reagan was more than just a devoted mother. Jonesy remembered her as a friend whose presence could lift any spirit. “If you were down, you’d call her and she’d bring you back to joy. She always helped you see the brighter side of life.”
A community in grief
Neighbors in Raleigh are struggling to come to terms with the sudden and immense loss of a family they had just started getting to know. Jason Flores, one of the Dougan family’s neighbors, told WRAL, “We always waved at each other. She always smiled. Her kids were always happy. You could smell their food cooking, and it always smelled amazing.”
Although their time in the neighborhood was brief, the family left an impression. The children were often seen playing outside, climbing trees, and filling the yard with laughter.
Christian’s stepmother, Sarah Stoltman, launched a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses and the transportation of the family’s remains back to Florida.
At the time of this writing, the fundraiser has brought in nearly $88,000 of its $120,000 goal.
“As Christian and Reagan’s family begin to grieve the loss of these five precious souls, the cost of moving them from Georgia to their final resting place in Florida adds a financial burden we can’t begin to measure,” Sarah wrote in the campaign. Thanks to this outpouring of support, Reagan and her children will be given a respectful and heartfelt farewell.
“I promise Carter was laughing before and after this.”
Posted by Reagan Dougan on Sunday, August 11, 2024
Friends and strangers alike have been pouring out tributes across social media, offering prayers, condolences, and memories.
Photographer Katrina Cusatis, who had taken maternity photos for the family the previous fall, expressed her grief on Facebook: “My heart is shattered by this unimaginable tragedy. The love they shared and the joy they radiated will stay with me forever.”
She urged people to support Christian in any way possible: “If you feel led, please donate. There’s a GoFundMe to help the family during this unbearable time.”
Reagan’s longtime friend, Cecily Corinne Borquez, posted a childhood picture of them together and wrote, “You were an amazing friend, full of life, laughter, and love. You were truly one in a million. I can’t wrap my head around how something so tragic could happen to someone so special. You’ll never be forgotten.”
A Legacy Etched in Love
The loss of the Dougan family has left a void in the hearts of everyone who knew them. Friends describe Reagan as a light—someone who lived joyfully, loved deeply, and gave everything she had to being a mother.
As her friend Jonesy put it, “She gave off this warm, comforting energy. It helped me believe that maybe, just maybe, there’s still light at the end of the tunnel.”