A devastating tragedy unfolded in the early hours of May 16, 2025, claiming the lives of an engaged couple from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in separate car crashes on Plank Road. Alexus Lee, 25, and John “JR” Collins, 35, who were set to marry in February 2026, leave behind their 4-year-old son, Gabriel, and a community grappling with profound loss.
The accident started at about 2:00 a.m. when Alexus Lee took her 2013 Toyota Highlander down Plank Road off Lemon Road in East Baton Rouge Parish’s city of Zachary. Lee lost control of her car and swerved off the road, hit a culvert, and the SUV rolled over. Lee was not buckled up and died from the injuries sustained when she was found dead at the scene.
Much less than an hour and a half later, at about 3:45 a.m., John “JR” Collins was speeding his 2016 Chevrolet Camaro on Plank Road at Idlewild Road in Clinton, East Feliciana Parish. Collins was reported speeding toward the scene of Lee’s wreck when his vehicle also lost control. He was traveling at a high rate of speed when he did not make a turn, left the road, and hit a tree. Not wearing a seatbelt, Collins was thrown from the car and died at the scene.
The two crashes are under investigation by the Louisiana State Police and involved toxicology samples from the drivers. Although preliminary reports make no indication of impairment, the probes will look at what exactly caused the fatal crashes.
Alexus Lee and John “JR” Collins were beloved in their community. A newly-minted graduate of Southern University, Lee instructed at East Feliciana STEAM Academy, where she inspired through her work ethic. Collins was a truck driver who favored sports cars and made this love plain in the vehicle he inhabited. The couple had just bought a new house and were starting a life together full of promise, and so abruptly taken away from them.
Their 4-year-old son, Gabriel, has an uncertain future without his parents. In turn, the Baton Rouge community has pulled together to provide support. A celebration of life on May 21, 2025, at East Feliciana STEAM Academy at 9414 Plank Road in Clinton welcomed family, friends, and neighbors in remembrance of the couple and as a community in mourning together.
The dual tragedies underscore the critical importance of road safety. The absence of seatbelts in both crashes was a decisive factor in the fatal outcomes, prompting renewed calls from authorities for drivers to buckle up. The Louisiana State Police continue to emphasize the need for seatbelt use, adherence to speed limits, and heightened awareness behind the wheel.
