According to the Orange Police Department, the young couple had just left the courthouse on Friday after being officially married by Justice of the Peace Joy Dubose-Simonton. Driving off in their 2004 Chevrolet, they were followed closely by family members, eager to continue the celebration. But as they attempted to merge onto a nearby highway, their car collided with a 2015 Ford F-250 pickup truck pulling a trailer loaded with a tractor.

The crash was sudden and devastating. Both Harley and Rhiannon were killed instantly. The nightmare unfolded right before the eyes of Harley’s mother and sister, who were traveling behind them in another vehicle and witnessed the tragedy as it happened.

“They had just gotten married,” Harley’s mother, Kennia, told local station KFDM through tears. “They weren’t even married for five minutes.”

For the families, the devastation was beyond words. A day meant to mark love, unity, and beginnings turned into an unimaginable loss. The timing made the tragedy even more unbearable—only moments earlier, the couple had been smiling, hopeful, and stepping hand in hand into their future together.

Police confirmed that the accident occurred as the newlyweds exited the private courthouse drive. The truck, hauling a heavy load, was already traveling along the highway when the Chevrolet attempted to merge. The impact was unavoidable and catastrophic, leaving no chance for survival.

Family members and other witnesses could do nothing but watch in horror as the celebration turned instantly into heartbreak. The echoes of wedding vows were drowned out by the sound of sirens, a cruel and sudden reminder of how quickly joy can be replaced with grief