Honeymoon Ends in ‘Horrific’ Car Crash That Kills Newlywed Father, 22, and 1-Year-Old Daughter — Surviving Widow Seriously Injured

On July 26, 2025, Hunter Lyons, 22, and his 1-year-old daughter Oakleigh Lyons were killed in a head-on collision on Kentucky Route 261 in Breckinridge County. His wife, Macey Lyons, was seriously injured, and the impact also took the life of the other driver.

The incident was announced by Macey’s mother, Leigh Ann Payne-Weisser, on July 27 on Facebook. A few days later, Fox News reported that a Ford F-150, driven by 48-year-old Joseph Maynard from Owensboro, had veered too far from the center line for unknown reasons.

It crashed into Hunter and Macey’s Chevrolet Silverado. Unfortunately, the force of the impact caused both vehicles to catch fire.

While Hunter and Oakleigh were pronounced dead on the scene by the Breckinridge County Coroner’s Office, Macey suffered severe burns and was taken to the University of Louisville Hospital.

Leigh Ann called the accident “horrific,” explaining that the couple and their baby were returning home from their honeymoon in Pigeon Forge, and asked for prayers from her friends and loved ones. The wedding had taken place just seven days earlier, on July 19.

An obituary for the father and daughter said that Hunter had graduated from Breckinridge County High School, worked as a machinist, and was a big part of the Constantine Missionary Baptist Church.

He was also outdoorsy and loved fixing things, which is why he was named an honorary stockholder of Snap On Tools. He and Macey got engaged in 2022.

The baby, born in February 2024, was described as a “ray of sunshine” with a “sassy personality.” Like her father, she loved being outside and feeding apples to horses.

The obituary goes on to name all the family members they left behind. Meanwhile, the funeral services will be held on August 2 at 11 a.m. CT at Hunter’s beloved church.

Their bodies will be laid to rest at the Lyons Cemetery in Custer later that day. Anyone who wants to help with expenses can donate to the Trent-Dowell Funeral Home.

Unfortunately, this tragedy came nearly two years after the family lost another important member. Just two days after announcing the car crash, Leigh Ann wrote a memorial post on Facebook, talking about losing her son, Garrett.

She said that she still misses him and that he is now with Hunter and Oakleigh. She also asked for continued prayers for their family.

Sadly, an incident, states away, also destroyed a family a few months ago. As previously reported, on April 6, 2025, at around 6 a.m., a mother, 27-year-old Reagan Dougan, and her four young children died in a two-car crash on I-95 in McIntosh County, Georgia.

According to the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), Reagan was driving a rental Jeep Cherokee south from Raleigh, North Carolina. The SUV was in the far-right lane when it rear-ended a sedan.

Reagan was heading to meet her husband, Christian Dougan, in Florida. A witness recalled seeing the SUV hit the center guardrail before it burst into flames. Authorities stated that the rental vehicle was “traveling at a high rate of speed” early that Sunday morning.

The GSP confirmed that the five occupants of the SUV, including a nine-year-old boy, a four-year-old boy, a two-year-old girl, and a three-month-old boy, were pronounced deceased at the scene. The passenger in the other vehicle was transported to the hospital.

Authorities closed the I-95 for four hours following the crash. An official at the scene recalled witnessing the Jeep completely burned down. He confirmed that the white Infiniti four-door sedan had been hit in the rear. The GSP emphasized that these findings were preliminary as the crash investigation remained ongoing.

Since their passing, Reagan’s loved ones in Florida and her neighbors have fondly remembered her. A Raleigh neighbor, Christopher “Jonesy” Butler-Jones, admitted, “I’m still in shock,” adding, “(Her husband) lost his entire family. It’s just heart-wrenching.”

Neighbors shared that the Dougan family was new to North Carolina, having moved a few months earlier to a bigger house in a Raleigh cul-de-sac. Loved ones said it had been about a year since Reagan and her family moved to Raleigh.

Butler-Jones remembered Reagan as a “devoted mother,” a sentiment echoed by her friends in Florida. He said, “That was one of her dreams, is to always have an amazing family and be a mother. She was very dedicated. Her kids were everything to her.”

The neighbor recalled how the late mother had been there for him and his family after 2024’s Hurricane Milton took everything from them. He shared, “When my kid came out of his room yesterday, he happened to have on the shirt, shorts, everything that was an outfit that she sent.”

Butler-Jones continued, “There was a very warm, comforting feeling. It kind of allowed me to be able to start seeing that there is going to be a light at the end of the tunnel.” He remembered his friend as a “very loving, and kind person,” someone you could call when upset because she would make you happy.

The neighbor concluded, “She’s going to show you the brighter side of it.” Another neighbor, Jason Flores, recalled, “We always waved to each other. She always had a smile on her face. The kids were always happy. Their food always smelled good when they cooked it.” However, they never got to spend time together as neighbors.

Flores admitted he could not fathom how they were there one day and gone the next. According to a news report, the Dougan family was described as “sweet and joyful,” with the children often playing in the family yard and the boys climbing trees.