Tragedy on I-95: Georgia Crash Claims Young Mother and Her Four Children

Family trip ends in heartbreak as car bursts into flames on McIntosh County highway

A Sunday morning drive turned into a horrific tragedy in coastal Georgia. Just before sunrise, a mother and her four children lost their lives in a fiery crash that has left a small community and a grieving husband shattered.

Reagan Dougan, 27, and her children—ages 9, 4, 2, and just 3 months old—were all killed after their rental vehicle collided with another car on Interstate 95 and caught fire. The accident happened around 6 a.m. in McIntosh County, southbound near exit 58, according to Georgia State Trooper Christopher Ashdown.

A Routine Journey That Should’ve Ended in Florida

What began as a routine trip from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Florida ended in unimaginable loss. Dougan was reportedly on her way to reunite with her husband, who had already arrived in Florida and was waiting for the family.

They were less than halfway through their route when disaster struck. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but early reports confirm both vehicles were headed in the same direction when they collided. Witnesses say the impact was loud enough to be heard several hundred yards away.

The vehicle Dougan was driving ignited almost immediately.

No Time to Escape, No Chance to Survive

First responders arrived quickly, but there was little they could do. The car was fully engulfed in flames by the time help reached the scene. Ashdown told reporters it appeared no one in Dougan’s car made it out before the fire consumed the vehicle.

“It’s the kind of scene that stays with you forever,” one emergency crew member said, visibly shaken. “You don’t forget this.”

The sole survivor from the second vehicle, a male passenger, was rushed to a nearby hospital with injuries that were not immediately life-threatening.

Shockwaves Through Two States

The news spread fast—from North Carolina, where the family began their drive, to Florida, where they were headed. Friends, neighbors, and relatives have flooded social media with grief-stricken messages, some in disbelief, others simply heartbroken.

This wasn’t just any family. Friends describe Reagan as a “devoted, fiercely loving mother” who rarely went anywhere without her kids. She homeschooled her eldest, cooked dinner every night, and was described as “the glue” of the family.

Her children—two girls and two boys—were remembered as playful, curious, and full of life.

Road Fatalities Are Up—And It’s Alarming

Here’s where it gets even more sobering. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, fatal crashes on I-95 have risen over 15% in the past three years.

A quick look at the numbers shows just how dangerous this highway stretch can be:

Despite public awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement, distracted and high-speed driving continue to play major roles in deadly wrecks on this route.

Rental Car, Young Driver, Middle of the Morning

A few things stood out to investigators. Dougan was driving a rental car. That could mean unfamiliarity with vehicle controls or handling—especially under stress.

It also happened early in the morning, a time when many drivers are fatigued, visibility is lower, and traffic is light, often leading to higher speeds.

• Time of crash: 6:00 a.m. EST

• Road condition: Dry

• Lighting: Limited early morning sunlight

• Weather: Clear skies

Officials haven’t released details about what led to the crash—whether it was speed, distraction, or something else entirely. But they confirmed both vehicles were on the move, not stationary.

Grief, Guilt, and a Husband Left Behind

Perhaps the hardest part to wrap your head around is the emotional fallout. The husband, whose identity has not been released, was informed shortly after the crash. He had driven ahead to Florida, where the family planned to spend the week together.

Now, instead of a joyful reunion, he’s preparing to bury his wife and four children. Friends have rallied around him, but there’s little that can be said. There are some things words just can’t fix.