Family Mourns Pregnant 19-Year-Old and Her Unborn Son Killed on Thanksgiving

What should have been a peaceful ride home after a joyful Thanksgiving ended in a gut-wrenching tragedy that no family could ever prepare for.

Just hours after sharing turkey and laughter with her loved ones, 19-year-old Jaylah Donald and her unborn baby boy were gone, ripped away in an instant while doing a favor for a close friend. Now, in Covington, Georgia, with her mother critically injured, investigators are closely examining the actions of both drivers.

Teen and Her Baby Killed in Late Night Collision

It was shortly after midnight on November 28, 2025, when Jaylah sat in the car beside her mother, Takila Donald, unaware that it would be her final ride.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, the mother and daughter were struck on the passenger side by another vehicle in a violent crash that unfolded on Fairview Road near Crestfield Circle around 12:34 a.m.

In a statement to People, the Georgia Department of Public Safety reported that Takila, driving a black Hyundai Sonata, had been "backing improperly" from a private driveway, failing to yield as she re-entered the road. A BMW barreling westbound didn't have a chance to stop.

The devastating impact killed Jaylah and her unborn child on the spot. Takila was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital, and she was reported in critical condition as her life hung by a thread.

The driver of the BMW was identified as Brandon Robinson, who sustained minor injuries, but the most shocking revelation came soon after: Robinson was allegedly driving under the influence.

Both him and Takila may eventually face charges, pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation by the Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team.

And this isn't a freak occurrence.

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveal that one-third of all Thanksgiving crash deaths between 2019 and 2023 were caused by drunk drivers.

Family Mourns Young Mother and Her Baby Boy

Jaylah's grandmother, Genette Anderson, described what had been a normal, joyful Thanksgiving until it turned into something out of a nightmare. Her daughter and granddaughter had left the house to give a neighbor a ride, a simple act of kindness that would cost them everything.

As they backed out of the neighbor's driveway, the crash occurred. The neighbor, unaware of the tragedy unfolding outside, didn't realize anything was wrong until ambulances flooded the street. That's when they called Genette to come.

"When I first got up there, I couldn't breathe, for one thing," she said.

Still, she added, "I got to be the strong person and accept it because I can't question God because at the end of the day, we're all going to have our number."

But that didn't stop her from urging the world to cherish family.

Jaylah had so much to live for. She had just graduated from Maynard Jackson High School and had plans to begin college after her son was born. In fact, she had just shared the biggest news of her life with her father, Jonathan Ponds, earlier that day.

"It was crazy to find out that I was going to be a grandfather, and then a couple hours later, I lose my daughter and my grandson," he said. "I was actually very ready to embrace the role."

On Sunday, November 30, more than 50 loved ones and friends gathered to release balloons into the night sky in honor of Jaylah and her baby.

GoFundMe Launched to Honor Two Lives Taken Too Soon

In the wake of this tragedy, Arlena Hill set up a GoFundMe page on behalf of Genette to help ease the unimaginable burden now facing the Donald family.

The fundraiser captures the heartbreak of a family left reeling, but also honors Jaylah's feelings as an expectant mother. Although she was still young, she wanted her child and was always grinning and showing affection to others.

"To lose them both so suddenly is a heartbreak that no family should ever have to endure," the page reads.

Funds raised will go toward funeral and burial expenses, a memorial for both mother and child, and financial support for the grieving family. So far, the campaign has raised over $7,000 of its $9,000 goal.

Those who can't donate are urged to share the link and spread the word. Our hearts are with the Donald family, as they mourn the loss of two bright lights extinguished far too soon.