Sports Illustrated writer Matthew Graham has broken his silence days after his pregnant wife, Regan Cole-Graham, was struck and killed by a car while riding her bike with their family.
Matthew told the New York Post that his wife was “amazing” and “the world’s best mother” in a story published Tuesday, February 3.
The accident occurred on Saturday, January 31 in the Playa del Rey neighborhood of Los Angeles. Regan, who was an executive at Google, was rushed to the hospital where her premature baby was delivered before she died. She was 36.
The baby, a girl, spent two days in the NICU but died on Monday, February 2.
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The driver was an elderly man, who stayed on the scene and cooperated with authorities. The LAPD does not believe drugs or alcohol were involved and that it was a “tragic accident,” according to local ABC7.
Regan was riding with the couple’s three-year-old son, Dale, who was taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries. Matthew and their 18-month-old son Theo were also present and uninjured.
“This case really represents one of the most profound losses imaginable. It’s hard for me to even wrap my head around it,” the family’s attorney, Brian Breiter, told the New York Post. “This is the hardest time anyone could imagine, and I just want them to be together. Imagine a three year old little boy and an 18 month old child witnessing that?”
Breiter added that he had reviewed footage of the accident and that “at some point it’s time to take the keys away” from elderly drivers. The crash is still under investigation.
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The couple’s extended family has set up a GoFundMe to “pay for funeral expenses and help Matt with the kids’ future.” As of Thursday, February 5, it had raised $246,000 with a goal of $250,000.
The fundraiser went viral on social media on Monday when journalist Chris Cillizza, Matthew’s college friend, shared it via X with his 556,000 followers.
“On Saturday night, my college friend Matt Graham, his wife Regan Cole-Graham and their two young boys were riding bikes in Los Angeles,” Cillizza, 49, wrote. “She was struck by a car and killed. She was also 7 months pregnant with their third child — a little girl.”
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He continued, “I understand that not everyone is in a financial position to donate. But, if you are, please give what you can to my friend who has had his entire life change in the space of the last 2 days.”
Ashley Saglie, a friend of Regan’s, remembered her as “the most wonderful human being that I ever met.”
“She’s the best mother, and she loved her kids and the world is…It’s not fair,” she told ABC7.
“She loved life. She loved playing with her kids. She loved her husband dearly,” Chrystal Caban, another friend, added. “She loved her sisters with her whole heart, and she loved her parents more than anything. We’re going to miss her every day.”
Mary Creel, a third friend, said, “Everything I know about being a mom is from her. I can’t imagine doing this without her, but I’m gonna make sure that my son remembers mommy Regan. He called her mommy Regan.”
