Reagan Dougan, a mother of four, was driving her children to Florida to see their father when tragedy struck. Traveling south on I-95 in McIntosh County, Georgia, their rented SUV collided with another vehicle and burst into flames, killing all five instantly.

The children were just 9, 4, 2, and 3 months old. Georgia State Trooper Christopher Ashdown said the SUV struck the rear of a white Infiniti sedan at high speed. “Seeing how hard the impact was obviously caused the SUV to ignite,” he explained. The driver of the Infiniti was injured and taken to a hospital.

The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation. Friends say the trip was meant to be a joyful visit but ended in unimaginable loss.

Christopher “Jonesy” Butler-Jones, a close family friend, fought back tears as he told WTVD, “\[Her husband] lost his entire family. It’s just heart-wrenching.” He remembered Reagan as a devoted mother whose children were “everything to her.”

“If you were upset, you could call her, and she’d make you happy,” Butler-Jones said. “She always showed the brighter side of things.”

Friend Lindsey Marie shared her shock and grief, saying, “I can’t imagine what her poor husband and family are feeling. Tomorrow is never promised.” She added, “Rest in peace, angel. You have no idea how loved you were.”

A GoFundMe was launched to help Reagan’s husband, Christian Dougan, with funeral costs and the transport of his family to their final resting place in Florida. Christian’s stepmother wrote, “We cannot even fathom the financial burden this will bring.”

Photographer Katrina Cusatis, who took the family’s maternity photos last fall, shared on Facebook, “Their love, joy, and connection were truly unforgettable. My heart is completely broken over this unimaginable tragedy.”