A community is rallying around the family of a Minerva business owner and mother of three who was killed in a freak accident Saturday when a large tree fell onto her vehicle as she traveled along U.S. Route 30.
Bridget E. Reagan, 35, of Minerva, died Aug. 15 while driving west on U.S. 30 in Paris Township, just outside Minerva.
Reagan owned Chic Haven Boutique in Minerva and was the mother of three children — Aiden, 18, Cohen, 6, and Bristyl, 5. She was also well-known throughout the community as someone who regularly supported local organizations, youth activities, events and other small businesses.
In the days since her death, that same community has responded with an outpouring of support for Reagan’s family, including several fundraisers, memorial items and a vigil planned for Tuesday evening.
“Bridget was a beautiful person, inside and out,” her sister, Kelsi Holmes, said in a statement to Jordan Miller News. “She was a sister, a friend, a daughter, a fiancé, a mother, and a role model to everyone lucky enough to cross her path.”
Holmes said her sister volunteered as a youth soccer coach, donated raffle baskets to cheer events, made T-shirts for local events and routinely found ways to support other small businesses.
“She genuinely loved the people around her and was constantly finding ways to give back,” Holmes said.
Above everything else, Holmes said, Reagan was devoted to her three children.
“Those babies were her entire world,” Holmes said. “She was an incredible mom who loved them fiercely, endlessly, and unconditionally.”
Reagan was killed while traveling through a two-lane, heavily wooded stretch of U.S. 30 near Robertsville.
Lt. Johnnie Maier, commander of the Canton Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, told News 5 Cleveland that a large tree fell from the north side of the roadway and crushed Reagan’s 2023 Jeep Wagoneer.
Reagan was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the tree to fall. Maier said troopers are looking into whether the tree was rotted or whether saturated ground could have contributed to it falling. Investigators are also working to determine who owns the property where the tree was located.
At this point, Maier said the incident is being treated as an “act of God,” and no criminal charges are anticipated.
As that investigation continues, Minerva residents and businesses have turned their attention toward supporting the family Reagan left behind.
A candlelight vigil honoring Reagan is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, in front of Chic Haven Boutique.
Sandy Springs Brewing Co., which neighbors Reagan’s store, will donate 10% of all sales from 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Reagan’s family. The brewery will also have a donation box on its counter throughout the week for those who want to contribute.
A GoFundMe titled “Bridget’s Funeral and Memorial Fund” has also been established to assist Reagan’s family with expenses following her death.
The Komfort Zone is planning another community fundraiser Sunday, Aug. 23, when it will donate 100% of its sales and tips to Reagan’s family. The business will be open from 2 to 7 p.m., and to-go orders will also be available.
Gardner Candle Co. has created a memorial candle honoring Reagan, with all profits from the candles going to her family.
The candle carries a personal connection to Reagan. The business said each one will be poured using a fragrance Reagan loved and that had previously been made specifically for her.
The owner of Gardner Candle Co. described Reagan as a close friend who supported her candle-making business, encouraged her through difficult times and regularly partnered with her for events.
“Some people leave a light behind that can never be dimmed,” the business wrote.
The candle includes the phrase “Once a Lion, Always a Lion,” honoring Reagan’s connection to Minerva. Local pickup is being coordinated through The Clever Cookie & Creamery.
Memorial T-shirts have also been created to benefit Reagan’s family. The shirts feature Reagan’s photograph and cheetah-print elements, something organizers said she loved, along with the words, “Beautiful in life, treasured in memory, and forever loved beyond words.”
The organizer, Nichole Crawford, said Reagan’s family gave permission for the shirts. They are being offered in youth, adult and plus sizes, with local pickup in Minerva and shipping available.
The Minerva Area Chamber of Commerce also issued a statement remembering Reagan and offering condolences to her family.
“As a valued part of the Minerva business community, Bridget brought an incredible amount of energy, warmth, and joy to those around her,” the chamber said. “Her presence touched so many people, and the impact she made throughout our community will not be forgotten.”
For Holmes, however, the loss is also deeply personal. She described Reagan as more than a sister — calling her “my person, my constant, and someone I could always count on.”
Holmes said Reagan was someone who would drop what she was doing when another person needed help.
“She gave her time, her love, her energy, and whatever she could to make someone else’s life a little easier,” Holmes said. “That was Bridget.”
Now, many of the people Reagan helped throughout her life are finding their own ways to give back to the family she leaves behind.
“Her loss has left a hole that words will never be able to fill,” Holmes said. “But we will carry her with us — in the memories we share, in the people she helped, in the community she loved, and most importantly, in her three beautiful children.”
The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tree’s fall remains ongoing.
