A quiet Las Vegas neighborhood was left shaken this week after 12-year-old Haylee Ryan was struck and killed by a school bus while riding her bicycle home from school — a tragedy her mother says capped off an already devastating year for the family.
The crash happened just before 3:30 p.m. on Monday, October 6, along West Tropical Parkway near North Emerald Eagle Street, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Haylee, riding a BMX-style bicycle, was hit by a westbound school bus carrying 55 students.
The impact was so severe that police say the young girl was “projected” onto a nearby parked Chevrolet Tahoe before collapsing on the ground. She was rushed to University Medical Center’s trauma unit in critical condition but died the following day, October 7.
Both the bus driver and the Tahoe’s owner stayed at the scene and showed no signs of impairment, police confirmed. None of the children aboard the bus were hurt.
Haylee’s mother, Megan Ryan, learned of the crash while at work and rushed to the hospital, praying for her daughter’s survival.
“I was hyperventilating on the drive to UMC and praying that I didn’t pass out,” Megan told KVVU-TV. “I just kept hoping she’d be okay.”
In an interview with local station KNTV, Megan described how the tragedy came after months of hardship. “Since March, I got separated from my husband, my youngest son got diagnosed with brain cancer, my nephew got paralyzed, and now my daughter this month,” she said.
Through tears, she added, “I just know that Haylee is with God right now.”
On a GoFundMe page set up by family and friends, Haylee was described as “a sweet, pure, and fiercely creative child who dreamed of becoming an artist one day.”
Her loved ones wrote that “Haylee’s kindness and spirit touched everyone who knew her,” and that she would be remembered “for her warmth and imagination.”
Photos shared by the family show the smiling 12-year-old celebrating her birthday just days before her death.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said Haylee’s death marks the 124th traffic-related fatality in their jurisdiction this year — a grim statistic that has renewed calls for safer school routes and improved traffic awareness in family neighborhoods.
As of Wednesday morning, more than $46,000 had been raised through GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses and “the costs of honoring Haylee’s memory.”
Police are still investigating the cause of the crash, including whether road design, visibility, or timing of the traffic lights may have played a role.
For now, one mother is left clinging to faith amid unimaginable loss. “She was my heart,” Megan said quietly. “And I just hope people remember how much light she brought into the world.”
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.