We all know the warning: Don’t use your phone while driving. But for 17-year-old Katelyn Ray, one moment of distraction proved fatal. On the morning of September 5, 2018, Katelyn was driving to pick up her sister from work. As a school bus ahead of her slowed down, Katelyn—likely distracted by her phone—never hit the brakes.
She crashed into the back of the bus at full speed. First responders found her still holding her phone. The children on the bus were unharmed. Katelyn died at the scene.
Her family was devastated. What was meant to be a simple favor became a nightmare. Her mother and sister never got to say goodbye. Local police shared a photo of the wreck to raise awareness, not to shame, but to save lives. The message was clear: No text is worth a life.
Katelyn’s story continues to circulate online, urging drivers to stay focused. Her family hopes her tragedy can prevent another. Please, keep your phone out of reach while driving. That one glance can be the one that ends everything.
