Teen Dies After Slamming Into School Bus, Then Police Find What Was In Her Hand
Note: We are republishing this story which originally made the news in September 2018.
The Panola County community was left heartbroken after a school bus crash claimed the life of teenager Katelyn Ray. The collision occurred around 7:15 a.m. on a Wednesday morning when Ray’s car struck the back of a South Panola School bus on Highway 15 near Highway 6.
Family members confirmed the victim’s identity, sharing that Katelyn had been on her way to pick up her older sister from work when the accident happened. Just minutes earlier, her mother, Shelia Ray, had exchanged what would become their final words—a simple but heartfelt message of love.
When Katelyn failed to arrive at her sister’s workplace by 7:30 a.m., concern quickly grew. Attempts to reach her went unanswered, and the family’s fears mounted until they received the devastating call from the Mississippi Highway Patrol confirming she had been involved in a severe crash.