A young Louisiana mother and her infant son were killed by a suspected drunk driver on Christmas Eve just hours she was proposed to- and her fiance says that she was pregnant at the time of the crash.
Ryan McCollum Sr., 24, had proposed to Shelly Mulkey, 19, who was the mother of their seven-month-old son. He says they were on their way home from a family Christmas party when Jillian Pamela Ramsey, 36, crashed into their vehicle in Tickfaw, according to The Advocate.
Louisiana State Police say that Ramsey was drunk and fleeing a previous crash when her car rear ended the car with Mulkey, McCollum and their infant son inside.
Shelly Mulkey was driving with seven-month-old son (pictured) when they were rear ended by a vehicle on Christmas Eve
Jillian Ramsay was allegedly fleeing another crash when she read ended a vehcile with the young family inside
The crash ruptured the family’s 2005 Dodge Stratus gas tank, causing both vehicles to burst into flames.
Witnesses pulled the mother and father from the car and performed CPR but the baby remained inside.
Mulkey and her seven-month-old were pronounced dead on the scene. McCollum was taken to a local hospital and was treated for burns to his face and ears.
Ramsay, who only suffered minor injuries, was booked at Tangipahoa Parish Jail on two counts of vehicular homicide, hit and run, and careless operation.
Police said she was also driving impaired, according to various reports.
‘She was an awesome mama and an awesome friend,’ McCollum said of his fiance. ‘I just want to hold them both in my arms again so bad.’
Mulkey’s boyfriend of four years, Ryan McCollum Sr, 24, had proposed to her hours before the crash that took her life, and the life of his son. He says they just found out she was pregnant again
Jillian Ramsay in her mugshot- she is being held at the Tangipahoa Parish jail
McCollum said his Christmas present to the mother of his baby was the proposal.
‘I got a ring out and asked her to marry me. I got on one knee,’ he said.
The couple of four years were expecting a special gift, as they just learned over the weekend that Mulkey was pregnant with their second baby.
Her Facebook bio eerily reads: ‘live life to the fullest, tomorrow is never promised.’
The woman’s father, Billy Mulkey, told the Advocate he wants to see Ramsay prosecuted to the fullest.
‘That’s three lives she took from me,’ he said.
While the loss of life has devastated his family, Billy says he feels bar for Ramsey.
‘That woman is going to have to live with that the rest of her life.’