Police: CCSD bus driver at fault in crash that killed Haylee Ryan

The 75-year-old driver of a Clark County school bus was found to be at fault for a collision last week that killed a 12-year-old girl riding her bike in the northwest Las Vegas Valley, according to a police report obtained Monday.

The girl, who was identified last week as Haylee Ryan, was riding west on Tropical Parkway near North Emerald Eagle Street at about 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 6 when she was struck by a 2019 Thomas Built school bus traveling in the same direction, the Metropolitan Police Department said in traffic crash report.

Ryan was attempting pass a vehicle parked in the westbound bike lane when the front right corner of the bus struck the left handlebar of Ryan’s bike, causing her to collide with the SUV parked in the bike lane, police wrote. The bus “did not give roadway space” for Ryan, causing it to run over the girl and continue another 121 feet until coming to a stop, according to the report.

Both vehicles remained at the scene, police said. The bus sustained minor damage to the front right bumper and was towed by a Clark County School District transport vehicle, according to the report.

The report states the girl suffered “serious injuries to her pelvis and lower extremities,” and was transported to the University Medical Center’s trauma unit by ambulance and died the next day, police later said. Ryan wasn’t wearing safety equipment, and her bike’s handlebars and wheels were damaged, and the bike was impounded, according to the crash report.

A Metro spokesperson wasn’t immediately available to comment on whether the driver has since been cited.

The bus driver’s name was redacted from the crash report, but an Oct. 7 press release from Metro identified the driver as Lorcesa Lewis, 75, of Las Vegas. A CCSD spokesperson did not respond to an email asking whether Lewis was an employee as of Monday. Attempts to reach Lewis using information listed in public record databases were unsuccessful.

Ryan’s death came after another CCSD student, Cristofer Suarez, 12, was hit Oct. 3 by a motorist suspected of reckless driving and hit-and-run while walking near the intersection of Owens Avenue and 21st Street. He died at the University Medical Center on Oct. 6, according to police.

Nearly 400 people showed up to a vigil for Ryan on Saturday in front of Lied STEM Academy, a short distance where she was struck and was the school she attended, her mother Meghan Ryan said. A GoFundMe digital fundraiser to benefit the Ryan family and cover funeral expenses has raised nearly $80,000 as of Monday afternoon.

Ryan’s family is also hosting a celebration of life 9 a.m. Oct. 18 at Canyon Ridge Christian Church, located at 6200 W. Lone Mountain Road.

“She was loved and cherished and a part of this community,” Meghan Ryan said of her daughter at Saturday’s vigil. “She had so many friends. She really affected people.”

Contact Casey Harrison at charrison@reviewjournal.com. Follow @casey-harrison.bsky.social on Bluesky.