In a deeply tragic and heart-wrenching series of events, Alexus Lee, a beloved 25-year-old teacher and Southern University graduate, was killed in a car crash early Friday morning, May 16—only for her fiancé, John “JR” Collins, to perish in a separate accident on the same road less than two hours later.
The engaged couple from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, left behind their 4-year-old son, Gabriel, who is now being cared for by grieving family members determined to surround him with love and stability.
Alexus was driving her SUV along Plank Road in Zachary when she lost control and crashed into a culvert. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Just hours later,
Collins, 35, a truck driver and car enthusiast, was reportedly racing to the crash site after hearing the devastating news. In a cruel twist of fate, he too lost control of his vehicle on the same stretch of road near Clinton, Louisiana. He was ejected after hitting a tree and died at the scene. Neither was wearing a seatbelt at the time of their respective crashes.
Friends and family are devastated by the unimaginable double tragedy. Alexus, known for her bright spirit and dedication to education, was a teacher at East Feliciana STEAM Academy, where she had already begun shaping young minds with passion and care. She had recently graduated from Southern University, one of the nation’s prominent historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and was considered a rising star among her peers.
“She had so much ahead of her — her career, her family, her wedding,” one friend wrote on social media. “Alexus was the kind of person who made every room brighter.”
The couple had just purchased a new home and were in the midst of planning a wedding for Feb. 2026. Their dreams, and the life they were building together, were suddenly and violently cut short.
On Wednesday morning, May 21, a joint celebration of life was held for the couple, honoring their love story and the life they shared. The service brought together members of the Baton Rouge community, fellow educators, friends, and family who continue to grieve the tragic loss of two bright lives taken too soon.
The focus now turns to Gabriel, their young son, whose life was irrevocably changed that day. Family members have expressed their commitment to raising him in a loving environment, surrounded by the memory and spirit of his parents.
Two fatal accidents on the same road, mere hours apart, have left a city in shock and a child without his parents.
