What should have been a calm evening outdoors turned into an unthinkable tragedy for one Los Angeles family.
A simple bike ride, the kind many parents take to spend quality time with their kids, ended in heartbreak when a pregnant mother lost her life alongside her unborn child.
What Happened on Pershing Drive
Regan Cole-Graham, a 36-year-old mom who was seven months pregnant, was riding an electric bike on Saturday evening with her husband, Matt Graham, and their two young children.
The family was traveling along Pershing Drive in Los Angeles around 6 p.m. when a white sedan moving in the same direction suddenly hit her, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The force of the collision was devastating.
Officers said the impact threw Cole-Graham and another passenger from the electric bike, leaving the scene chaotic and urgent.
Emergency Response and Heartbreaking Loss
Paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department rushed Cole-Graham and the unidentified passenger to a nearby hospital.
Despite their efforts, she was later pronounced dead.
The tragedy deepened overnight.
The baby girl Cole-Graham had been carrying was also declared dead early Sunday, a painful update shared by organizers of an online fundraiser set up to support the family.
Remembering Regan Cole-Graham
Those close to Cole-Graham describe her as someone who lived loudly and loved deeply.
The fundraiser page honors her as a devoted wife, a joyful and fierce mother, a loyal sister with a sharp sense of humor, and a passionate daughter whose presence filled every room she entered.
She leaves behind her husband and their two young sons, whose lives have been forever changed.
Community Support and a Friend’s Plea
The fundraiser gained widespread attention after journalist Chris Cillizza shared it on Monday, explaining that Matt Graham was a close friend from his college days.
In an emotional post on X, he acknowledged that not everyone can give but urged those who are able to contribute whatever they can.
By Monday evening, nearly $122,000 had been raised to help cover funeral costs and future expenses for the children.
The Investigation Moving Forward
The LAPD’s West Traffic Division is now handling the investigation into the fatal crash.
Authorities have not yet released further details as they work to determine exactly what led to the collision.
For now, a family mourns, a community rallies around them, and questions remain about how such a devastating loss could happen during what was meant to be a peaceful family moment.
