They were in love, newly engaged, and raising their child while building a future together. But within a span of a few short hours, everything changed — two lives lost, and a little boy left behind.
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.”
Friends and family celebrated with them. It was a time filled with promise — a future they were building one milestone at a time. The couple had just purchased a new home and had plans, dreams, and unwavering love.
Alexus was more than a partner and a mother. She was a recent graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and had begun shaping young minds as a teacher at East Feliciana STEAM Academy. The school community mourned her loss deeply.
In a public message, they remembered her not only as a dedicated educator but also as an alumna of East Feliciana High School. The announcement described her passing with great sadness and asked the community to lift her family in prayer during this time of grief.
JR, a truck driver by profession, had a passion for sports cars. He was known for his love of the road, but also for the stability he was building at home with Alexus and Gabriel.
Despite the tragic end to their lives, those who knew them say their love story continues. It lives on in Gabriel — their young son — who now carries the spirit of their devotion as he grows under the care of both families.
