Ashley Hogan, a 35-year-old single mother of five daughters, tragically lost her life on Christmas Eve when her car was struck by a train in north St. Louis County.
Hogan, an African American nurse, was returning home from work at approximately 3:30 a.m. when her vehicle became stuck on the railroad tracks.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the car veered off the road for reasons yet unknown, becoming lodged in the gravel near the tracks. Investigators are exploring whether a medical condition may have contributed to the incident.
“We know the vehicle traveled off the roadway for really an unknown reason,” said Cpl. Dallas Thompson.
Hogan’s sudden passing has left her mother, Vernadine Hogan, to care for her five granddaughters, aged 6 to 15. The family had been eagerly anticipating a special Christmas celebration, one Ashley had worked tirelessly to prepare.
“I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the reality of I no longer have my daughter, and they no longer have their mom,” Vernadine shared.
The tragic loss has inspired an outpouring of community support. Ferguson Police Officer Andrae Spraggin, a former classmate of Ashley’s, has spearheaded efforts to collect donations for the Hogan family. Additionally, a GoFundMe campaign has raised over $53,000 to provide financial support for the grieving family.
Vernadine expressed gratitude for the kindness shown by friends, neighbors, and strangers. She also shared her hope that Ashley’s daughters would always remember their mother’s deep love and dedication.
“I don’t want them to think if she would have never walked out the door, if she would have never got in the car, if she had never went to work,” Vernadine said. “I want them to remember that she loved them so much.”
Hogan will be remembered by the community as a hardworking nurse and a devoted mother who left a lasting impact on everyone she encountered.
