The widow of a 39-year-old man killed in a Hephzibah ATV crash earlier this month recently spoke out about the day of the crash and the grief she and her four children have experienced following the tragic event.
The deadly Aug. 17 crash happened at the intersection of Greiner Circle and Eagle Pass Road, according to previous reporting.
The driver, Robert "Bobby" Joseph Bouteiller, 39, lost control of the ATV and it flipped multiple times in a field, ejecting all four passengers, The Chronicle reported. Bouteiller was pronounced dead at the scene and the passengers were taken to Wellstar Hospital.
Bouteiller's wife, Jess, said they were at a friend's house celebrating a birthday on the day of the tragedy.
"We were swimming and having a great time singing karaoke, and he just said, 'Babe, let me take one more ride before we go home' and he never came back," she said. "I'm covered in cuts and bruises from running to him through the field – I kept falling. I have bruises all over my arm from the deputies holding me up while I was screaming. I had no voice left."
The Bouteillers moved to the Augusta area from Connecticut nearly four years ago, not knowing anyone.
"We built an absolute amazing life here, surrounded by our friends, who we call family," Jess said.
Bouteiller worked as a truck driver for Averitt Express in Grovetown and was described by friends and family as a kind-hearted man who prioritized being there for his loved ones.
"He treated me like a brother and would call me every afternoon to check on me [and my family]," said Ronnie Overstreet, one of Bouteiller's friends. "I just never had that bond with any other friends. He went the extra mile, no matter what he had going on in his life. It really made a difference in how I lived my life and how I started treating people. I tell him every day, I wish I could just be a quarter of the person he was."
Jess explained Bouteiller adopted his two eldest sons when they first got together.
"They took his name and he was the only father they knew," Jess said. "He stepped up when he didn't have to and made sure we were always taken care of, no matter what. He was my kids' whole world. They would hear his truck pulling in the driveway and would run to the garage door and jump in his arms every day."
She said all of her children are trying to cope with the loss of their father in different ways, but said her youngest son, Jace, 6, is taking it the hardest.
"He was his best buddy," Jess said. "They shared a bedroom together because he has a sleep disorder and Jace keeps texting Bobby's phone all day, every day. I'll turn [Bobby's] phone on to go look at a picture or something and I see all of these TikToks Jace is sending to him."
He also leaves behind their daughter, Brookie, 5, teen sons, Andrew, 18, who just graduated high school, and Alex, 16.
Amidst the pain of the unexpected loss, the family is trying to remember all of the quirky things that made Bouteiller special.
"He said something funny every time he talked to somebody and had a nickname for everybody," she said. "When it was your birthday, you knew you were getting a phone call, hearing him singing 'Happy Birthday' in some awful tone. He wasn't a good singer, but he definitely thought he was. I told him all the time, 'As long as you think you sound good, I guess that's all that matters.'"
Jason Crews, another one of Bouteiller's friends, specifically remembers Bouteiller's karaoke renditions at his house.
"We would play a game called 'Kamikaze Karaoke,' where other people pick your song for you," Crews said. "I particularly remember him singing 'Barbie Girl' ... The guy was always happy and wanted to make sure everybody was involved and had a good time."
Bouteiller family creates GoFundMe
Jess's cousin, Emma Reynolds, created a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for Bouteiller's funeral and family expenses, given Jess's serious ongoing health issues that limit her from being able to work many hours.
"Our goal is to keep this house, no matter what," Jess said. "This is where we built our life and I'll do whatever it takes to make sure that my kids stay in our family home."
As of Tuesday afternoon, the GoFundMe raised $5,745 of the $10,000 goal.
"My phone dies every day because of all of the messages that I'm getting," she said. "It's amazing that he touched so many lives in the short amount of time we've been living down here."
To donate to the family's GoFundMe, visit https://tinyurl.com/48sxjhvy.
Previous report:Identities released in fatal ATV crash, sheriff's office releases more details
