BRADLEY, Arkansas — Sara Lea Nix, 28, of Bradley, Arkansas, and her three-year-old daughter, Raylea Chanler Nix, died in a two-vehicle collision on Highway 160 in Lafayette County on October 16, 2025. Their deaths left family members, friends, and others who knew them mourning the loss of a young mother and her child.

According to news reports citing the Arkansas State Police, the collision occurred near Gin at approximately 3:35 p.m. Smoke from a nearby fire reportedly reduced visibility along the highway when a Freightliner tractor-trailer traveling eastbound collided with the Chevrolet Tahoe Nix was driving westbound.

Both Sara and her daughter died at the scene, according to published reports. The tragedy later became the subject of civil litigation concerning the circumstances surrounding the fire and the conditions near the roadway.

What Happened in the Sara Nix Highway 160 Crash?

Sara Lea Nix was driving a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe westbound on Arkansas Highway 160 on the afternoon of October 16, 2025, according to accounts of the preliminary crash report published by local news outlets.

A 2007 Freightliner tractor-trailer traveling eastbound collided with the Tahoe near Gin in Lafayette County. Initial reporting indicated that smoke from a nearby fire had reduced visibility in the area.

Sara and her three-year-old daughter, Raylea Chanler Nix, died at the scene. Published reports stated that their bodies were taken to Smith Funeral Home in Stamps, Arkansas.

The collision drew attention across southern Arkansas because of the devastating loss of a mother and her young daughter. Although smoke was identified as a factor in initial accounts, questions about the fire and the conditions near the highway subsequently became part of a civil lawsuit.

Remembering Sara Lea Nix

Sara Lea Nix was born on August 3, 1997, in Bossier City, Louisiana. She was 28 years old when she died, according to her published obituary.

Her obituary remembered her as a devoted mother who enjoyed crafts, shopping, barrel racing, camping, and spending time with her children. These interests reflected the personal activities and family relationships that were important to her.

Sara also worked as a labor and delivery nurse. Messages shared in response to her obituary included condolences from people who remembered her through her professional work. One message attributed to a former patient described her as a reassuring presence during childbirth, while another expressed sympathy on behalf of hospital human resources.

These tributes offer a glimpse into the connections she formed with people around her. For those closest to her, however, her death represented an immeasurable personal loss, made even more painful by the death of her young daughter in the same collision.

Raylea Chanler Nix Also Died in the Crash

Raylea Chanler Nix, Sara’s three-year-old daughter, was also killed in the October 16, 2025, collision.

The deaths of mother and daughter in a single incident brought profound grief to their family and loved ones. Raylea was at the beginning of her life, and her death added another devastating dimension to an already heartbreaking tragedy.

Her name has appeared in published news coverage and memorial information. Details about the child should be attributed to sources that identify her, rather than assumed to appear in the original police report.

Sara and Raylea’s lives are remembered through the family notices and tributes published following the crash.

Family Members and Loved Ones

Sara’s published obituary named her husband, Cody Nix, and her children among those who survived her. It also referenced her parents, grandmother, siblings, in-laws, nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

The obituary provided a record of the family relationships that shaped her life and the people left to cherish her memory.

For the most complete and accurate account of her surviving relatives, readers should consult the original funeral-home notice rather than rely on abbreviated secondary summaries.

Sara Nix Funeral and Memorial Arrangements

According to the obituary published by A.O. Smith Funeral Homes, visitation for Sara Lea Nix was scheduled for October 21, 2025, at Bradley Baptist Church in Bradley, Arkansas.

Her funeral service was scheduled for October 22, 2025, at the same church, followed by burial at Walnut Hill Cemetery in Bradley. The arrangements were handled through A.O. Smith Funeral Home in Stamps.

These services have already taken place. The published obituary remains a reference for those wishing to read the family’s announcement, revisit the memorial details, or leave a message of remembrance.

Investigation and Wrongful-Death Lawsuit

Initial news coverage citing the Arkansas State Police preliminary crash report identified smoke from a nearby fire as a factor that reduced visibility along Highway 160.

In April 2026, a subsequent news report described a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Sara’s husband on behalf of the family. The lawsuit alleged that a controlled burn near the highway had been mishandled and that smoke, along with the positioning of a fire truck near the roadway, contributed to the fatal collision.

The complaint reportedly raised concerns about warnings, traffic control, and the actions of parties connected to the burn and the tractor-trailer. Several parties, including the landowner and individuals associated with the burn and the commercial vehicle, were named as defendants, according to the reported filing.

These statements describe allegations in civil litigation. They should not be interpreted as proven facts or a determination of legal responsibility. The filing of a wrongful-death lawsuit does not, by itself, establish negligence or liability, and any legal conclusions must be based on the proceedings and available evidence.

A Community Remembers a Mother and Daughter

Messages posted in response to Sara’s obituary reflected the sadness felt by friends, relatives, and people who knew her through work and personal relationships. Some remembered her kindness as a nurse, while others shared condolences and prayers for the family.

Such tributes offer only a partial picture of a person’s life, but they demonstrate the relationships that can endure in memory after a sudden loss.

For Sara’s family, the tragedy meant losing a 28-year-old mother and a three-year-old child in the same collision. Their published memorial notices preserve a record of their lives and the people who loved them.

Latest Update on the Sara Nix Accident and Obituary

Sara Lea Nix, 28, of Bradley, Arkansas, and her three-year-old daughter, Raylea Chanler Nix, died in a collision on Highway 160 in Lafayette County on October 16, 2025.

Initial reporting identified smoke-related visibility problems as a factor in the crash. A later civil lawsuit alleged negligence involving a controlled burn and traffic conditions near the highway. Those allegations must remain distinct from the facts reported in initial crash coverage unless established through the legal process.

Sara’s obituary remembers her as a devoted mother, a labor and delivery nurse, and a woman whose interests included crafts, camping, barrel racing, and spending time with her children.

Disclaimer

Information here is for general information purposes only. This article is based on published obituary information and news reports. Allegations described in connection with civil litigation remain allegations unless established through the legal process. Readers should consult the original funeral-home obituary, official records, and credible news reporting for additional verified information.