A young Louisiana mom and her 7-month-old baby are dead, and just hours after one of the most joyous occasions of her life.
Miami Herald reports that Shelly Mulkey, 19, was on her way home from a Christmas party in Loranger with her infant son, Ryan McCollum Jr., and her fiance, Ryan McCollum Sr., when a drunk driver, fleeing from a previous car crash, plowed into the back of her vehicle in Tickfaw. The impact was so severe that the gas tank in Mulkey’s 2005 Dodge Stratus erupted and blew up the vehicle.
Jillian Pamela Ramsey, 36, the alleged drunk driver, survived the incident. Authorities arrested her and charged her with hit-and-run, careless operation, and two felony counts of vehicular homicide.
McCollum Sr., 24, told The Advocate that he had been dating Mulkey for four years and decided to pop the big question to her on Christmas Eve. They had also just learned that Mulkey was pregnant with their second child.
“I got a ring out and asked her to marry me. I got on one knee,” McCollum said.
RIP little man . God took you with your momma for a reason . i honestly know deep down y'all are together in a very…
Posted by Katlyn Adams on Monday, December 25, 2017
According to the Louisiana State Police, at around 8:44 p.m., the suspect drove down La. 1065 and smashed into another vehicle. She quickly fled the scene, speeding away to evade capture, when she crashed into Mulkey’s vehicle near the intersection with La. 1064.
Witnesses pulled McCollum Sr. and Mulkey from the car and attempted CPR, while the baby remained trapped inside the vehicle. Both Mulkey and baby Ryan were pronounced dead at the scene. Paramedics rushed McCollum to the hospital where he was treated for burns and injuries. Although her vehicle also bursted into flames, authorities stated Ramsey suffered only minor injuries.
“That’s three lives she took from me. That woman is going to have to live with that the rest of her life.”
[Feature Photo: Shelly Mulky and Ryan McCollum Jr./Family Handout]
