Georgia Couple Thomas & Jasmine Agan Tragically Died, Leaving Behind 3 Young Children

A New Year's Day collision took the lives of a young Georgia couple, orphaning their three children and sparking an outpouring of grief as investigators probe what caused the fatal crash.

Thomas and Jasmine Agan were killed in a violent head-on collision on Alabama Highway 9 around 5:45 p.m. on January 1. The crash happened just two miles north of Centre in Cherokee County, shattering what should have been a day of hope into one of unspeakable tragedy.

Horror on the Highway: Couple Killed Instantly in Head-on Crash

Jasmine, just 26 years old, was behind the wheel of their Chevrolet Traverse with her husband, Thomas, 25, beside her when their SUV collided with a Ford Explorer driven by a 16-year-old boy.

In a chilling detail confirmed by Alabama State Troopers, neither Thomas nor Jasmine was wearing a seat belt. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

The teen driver, identified by relatives as Chaz Lawson, was seriously injured and airlifted to an undisclosed hospital. The cause of the crash is still under active investigation.

Three Young Children Left Behind in the Wake of the Tragedy

The Agans, who split their time between Temple, Georgia, and Cedar Bluff, Alabama, were the devoted parents of three children: Jaxson, Ila Mae, and Kolsie, all under the age of five. The little ones are now in the care of their grandparents, while the rest of the family navigates a sea of grief.

Back in Acworth, Georgia, colleagues at Allatoona Diesel and Automotive, where Thomas worked, are mourning the loss of a man they say brought warmth, laughter, and love into every room he entered.

"I feel quiet, don’t really know what to do here today," said Brett Gobel, a technician at the shop, speaking to Channel 2 Action News. "He always loved them, always had good things to say, and even the stories he would tell were hilarious about his kids."

'The Backbone of the Shop': Co-Workers Launch Fundraiser

The team at Allatoona Diesel is doing more than grieving. They're taking action. A GoFundMe page organized by the shop has already raised more than $47,000 of its $50,000 goal to support the Agan children.

"Anything and everything we can get our hands on, that is what we are currently looking for at the moment," said shop owner Drake Winn. "We are looking for a current mode of transportation for the three children."

Drake explained they plan to buy and repair a vehicle for the children and their caregivers, saying, "I'm here to do whatever it takes to help that family."

On the fundraising page, coworkers described Thomas as more than just an employee. "He and Drake were an incredible team, and Thomas truly was the backbone of our shop. He had a way of making sure you could never have a bad day — always laughing, joking, and spreading joy wherever he was," they wrote.

A Family in Mourning

Grief has also poured in from family members across social media. On January 4, relative Britney Walker posted a deeply emotional tribute on Facebook.

"My heart is broken. We lost my cousin and his wife, but they were both more like siblings to me," she wrote. "They truly felt like a brother and a sister. I loved them both deeply, and life will never feel the same without them. They leave behind three precious babies, and my heart aches for them."

She added, "Even in this pain, I find peace knowing they are together with the Lord. 2026, please be gentle and kind to our family for the rest of the year. Please keep our family in your prayers, especially these sweet babies."

A Year That Started in Sorrow

The Agans' deaths are just one in a series of devastating events to open 2026. Just one day after their passing, a deadly helicopter crash in Arizona claimed the lives of four people, again turning a day meant for celebration into grief and loss.

A groom-to-be and his three nieces were killed in a helicopter crash near Superior, Arizona, on the day he was set to marry.

Federal agencies have launched an investigation into the cause of the fatal midair tragedy, which occurred in a remote canyon deep within the mountains.

Bodies Recovered Hours After Helicopter Goes Missing

The helicopter crash occurred around 11 a.m. on January 2, 2026, near Telegraph Canyon, just south of Superior. Pinal County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) said four people had died in the accident, which happened shortly before a planned wedding ceremony.

The victims were identified as 59-year-old pilot David McCarty and his three nieces: Katelyn Heideman, 22; and sisters Rachel and Faith, both 21.

Earlier that morning, the privately operated helicopter had taken off from Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek, where McCarty also owned a home.

According to relatives, McCarty was set to marry his fiancée, Joelleen M. Linstrom, later that day, but took his nieces on a short flight beforehand.

Linstrom had publicly announced their engagement in a Facebook post in September 2025. Hours before the sheriff's office confirmed the crash, she updated her cover photo to one showing McCarty fishing beside his dog, an apparent tribute to her fiancé.

Rescue teams from the U.S. Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR), along with the PCSO's Search and Rescue, Superior Fire, and Queen Valley Fire, hiked into the rugged terrain with investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Due to the remote location, crews were unable to reach the wreckage until 5 p.m., when all four deaths were confirmed.

Midair Collision With Slackline Believed to Have Caused Crash

According to the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the helicopter involved was an MD 369FF.

Preliminary findings suggest one of its rotor blades may have separated after striking a recreational slackline, causing the aircraft to overturn and plunge into the canyon below. The slackline, more than one kilometer in length, had been suspended across the mountain range.

The International Slackline Association said the line was marked with aviation indicators and that the FAA had been informed in advance through a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM), which advised pilots to avoid the area. No slackliners were present at the time.

NTSB spokesman Keith Holloway said the helicopter "impacted wires and terrain under unknown circumstances" and that investigators are working to determine how the slackline came to be positioned across the flight path and whether it was visible to pilots.

Tributes Pour in as Community Mourns Devastating Loss

The incident has left loved ones devastated. Elizabeth Gallup, a relative of the victims, confirmed the identities in a Facebook post, calling all the losses "unimaginable." She thanked the public for their support as her family grieved.e

In a separate tribute, longtime friend Deatley Britt expressed deep sorrow over McCarty's death, sharing that he was overcome with emotion while trying to continue with his day.

He said McCarty would have encouraged him to keep going and keep working. Britt reflected on their last conversation and described McCarty as a legend, a good man, and a loyal friend. He ended by offering heartfelt condolences to McCarty's family