A Las Vegas family is learning to grapple with unspeakable tragedy. Haylee Ryan, a girl who attended Leid Stem Academy, was riding her bike home from school as she usually does. Soon, however, the girl found herself airborne after her bike collided with a school bus full of children also headed home. Sadly, she died as a result of the crash. Now, she’s being remembered for her warm spirit and creativity.
Not long before 3:30 p.m. October 6, 2025, a 12-year-old girl was riding her BMX bike home from school, according to a press release from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. As she was riding, the girl collided with a school bus, which “projected” her off the bike. The girl hit a parked Chevy Tahoe before landing on the ground.
Emergency medical personnel rushed her to a trauma center, where it was determined she had life-threatening injuries. Both the driver of the school bus and the SUV stayed at the scene and showed no signs of impairment, the police release noted.
The police department reported that 55 children were on the school bus at the time of the accident. None seemed injured, and they were released to their parents.
In an update, police shared that the girl died from her injuries on October 7. She was later identified as Haylee Ryan, Fox 5 reported. The day after her devastating death, her mom Meghan Ryan, and those close to the family gathered for a memorial.
“I was at work,” Meghan Ryan told Fox 5 about when she found out about Haylee’s accident. “I was hyperventilating on the drive to UMC and praying that I didn’t pass out.”
Ryan added, “I just know that Haylee is with God right now … That’s the only thing keeping me going. Her friends and family love her.”
Speaking with ABC 13, Ryan fondly remembered how much her daughter loved art. “Her room would be clean, and then all of a sudden, she’s working on more art stuff; her room would never stay clean because she was always working on something,” the mom shared. “She never just wanted to sit around, she was always creating everything.”
Haylee’s death comes at a tumultuous time for the family. “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, so it’s just been a crazy few months,” the mom explained.
To help ease some of the burden the family is going through, a GoFundMe account has been set up. In the description, Haylee Ryan is described as “a sweet, pure, and fiercely creative child, who dreamed of becoming an artist one day.”
“Haylee’s kindness and spirit touched everyone who knew her, and her family and friends will always remember her for her warmth and imagination,” the page continues. It also mentioned that she had only recently celebrated her 12th birthday.
