'Words Can’t Do Justice': Man Grieves Wife, 4 Children Killed In Highway Crash

GEORGIA — A North Carolina man grieving the deaths of the wife and four children he holds close to his heart told Patch his family was en route to surprise him in Florida when they were killed in a fiery Georgia crash.

Christian Dougan of Raleigh, North Carolina, lost his family Sunday on Interstate 95 south in McIntosh County, Georgia, as they traveled to see him. He told Patch Thursday he had been in the Sunshine State visiting family, not knowing they were driving to meet him.

Christian and Reagan Dougan were married for three years and two weeks as of Wednesday. The couple were parents to Carter, 9, Bentley, 4, Adelaide, 3, and Dawson, 2 months old.

All four children, along with Reagan Dougan, were killed in the crash when the Jeep SUV she was driving southbound in the far-right lane rear-ended a car, the Georgia State Patrol said. The Jeep then hit the center guardrail and caught fire. A passenger was injured in the second vehicle.

Reagan Dougan, "the best mother in the world," was originally from Dunedin, Florida. The Dougans relocated to Raleigh last year for a job, but prior to that, she spent her life in Florida.

"She loved everything and everybody," Christian Dougan told Patch. "She didn’t even know how to be mean. She had no idea. She was so sweet. I can’t even express how phenomenal a wife and mother she was. Words can’t do justice."

The stay-at-home mom did not meet a stranger, with Christian Dougan lovingly saying she would have him attend birthday parties of people he did not know.

"When I say loved, she would take these babies to the schools and would become best friends with the teachers," he said. "She did everything."

The eldest of the children, Carter, an avid hockey player, thoroughly enjoyed playing "Fortnite" for hours and eating oranges. Carter was a member of the Ankle Breakers, a Polar Hurricanes House League youth team sponsored by the North Carolina Hurricanes.

Carter's favorite hockey player was Victor Hedman, captain and a defenseman for the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning.

"The Dougan family were deeply valued members of our skating community at Polar Ice, participating and coaching in our Learn to Skate, Play and League programs. Words cannot adequately express our sincere condolences during this difficult time; it is truly unimaginable to comprehend the extent of this loss. On behalf of Polar Ice, we extend our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by this tragic accident," Polar Ice wrote in a statement released on its website and Facebook.

Christian Dougan said his "Bentley Boo" was "the most spirited young man" who lit up the room.

"He’d walk in, and the whole room would just change," the father said.

Bentley rarely wore tennis shoes as he preferred his muck boots. He had them in variety: slip-ons, pointed toe and so forth. His father said he would have to put snow pants on him to go with the boots during the cold season.

And at nightfall, Christian Dougan recalled reading "Dr. Seuss" books to his young son as he watched a kid's monster truck show to fall asleep.

The sole girl of the Dougan crew, Adelaide, was reminiscent of her mother due to her "chunky cheeks."

Christian Dougan said she was the "sweetest little girl" who enjoyed swinging. She could spend all of her time at the park on a swing set.

And when it was time for her dad to cook her favorite barbecue chicken wings in the backyard, Christian Dougan said she would swing along while he was on the smoker.

"She knew she was daddy’s princess," he said.

Adelaide would wear her "Little Mermaid" slippers and flop around in them as if they were flippers. She would also play with her toy dinosaurs and had a favorite pink cup.

"Love you" would translate into "Wuv you" as she was not yet able to pronounce it correctly.

"The one time she said 'Love you,' I got so sad because I never wanted it to change," Christian Dougan said. "... Anywhere I went, she held on to my finger."

Though Dawson was not yet old enough to show as much personality as his siblings, his father considered him "the most docile child ever." He would coo, never being one to scream.

With Dawson's birth, Reagan Dougan fulfilled one of her proudest life achievements, being able to breastfeed.

Christian Dougan said it was not until she gave birth to Dawson that she was able to do so. Her body did not produce breastmilk with her other three pregnancies.

"My wife was so proud of herself, and she breastfed, and for her, that was the biggest accomplishment in the world," Christian Dougan said. "... (Her) number one goal (was) to do it all the way through."

He remembered being awakened at night to the sounds of a breast pump; he would look over and she would be sitting there eating animal crackers and drinking Dr. Pepper while pumping.

A family that loved the outdoors, the Dougans planned to buy a camper. They adored traveling to the mountains for weekend trips.

With now being tasked to plan his family's memorials, Christian Dougan turned to GoFundMe with a $20,000 goal. To his astonishment, his fundraiser had collected more than $90,000 as of early Thursday afternoon.

For the grieving husband and father who lost his "beautiful family," he said the community support is "breathtaking."

"What do you say in words other than thank you because now they can have more than what I could’ve given them," he said. " ... There’s no words other than I’m thankful."

He asked for privacy, respect and love during this time.