Engaged Couple Tragically Died Hours Apart, Leaving Behind 4-Year-Old Son

A couple on the brink of a new life together met a tragic end — just hours apart. Alexus Lee and John “JR” Collins were planning a wedding, raising their young son, and dreaming of the future. But in a cruel twist of fate, both lost their lives in two separate incidents.

Now, their four-year-old boy is left behind, surrounded by grieving family members trying to make sense of the heartbreak. Following the tragic incident, JR’s father, Arthur Collins, stood strong as he reflected on the loss. “I love them and I’m gonna miss both of them and I’m gonna find the strength to go ahead,” he said.

In the face of deep sorrow, both families gathered to remember the couple. They held each other close, bound by pain but united in love. JR’s parents, Arthur and Sandra Collins, shared memories of the young couple’s whirlwind romance— a love story now painfully incomplete.

“He loved Alexus as well as everybody else who knew her,” said Sandra. Dominique Lee, Alexus’s sister, added, “It was a different feeling.” Speaking through tears, she continued, “It’s like I know a part of me gone.”

Alexus and JR were planning to wed in February 2026, but both died in a tragic turn of events that unfolded overnight last Friday, May 16. According to state police, Alexus was driving along Plank Road near Lemon Road in Zachary when she lost control of her SUV.

The vehicle veered off the road, crashed into a culvert, and overturned. Emergency responders were dispatched, and investigators contacted JR to inform him of the crash. Devastated, JR set out for the scene. But tragedy struck again.

While driving along Plank Road just outside the town of Clinton, he reportedly lost control of his car, which struck a tree. He was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. Troopers confirmed that neither Alexus nor JR had been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crashes.

Now, their son Gabriel, only four years old, is left in the care of grieving family members. JR’s mother said the young boy is aware of what happened but struggles to grasp the permanence of loss. “He understands that they’re asleep,” she shared.

Sandra also noted that even though the couple left their son behind, they have a great support system. “The two families will blend, and we will do whatever it takes to give him a good life,” she said.

Just last year, in June 2024, JR proposed to Alexus in a moment that brought her overwhelming joy. He chose her 25th birthday to ask the question, and Alexus wasted no time sharing the news.

She took to Facebook, proudly displaying her engagement ring and expressing her love for JR. In her post, she wrote with excitement and affection, calling him her partner through all of life’s ups and downs, and joyfully referring to herself as “Mrs. Collins to be.”