Tori Dakota Bunch, Potter County Texas: A devastating early morning crash on State Highway 136 has taken the life of an 18-year-old woman in a moment that changed everything in seconds.
The crash happened just before sunrise at about 5:51 a.m. on May 26, just south of El Rancho Road. Officials said the scene unfolded fast and with extreme force.
Investigators with the Texas Department of Public Safety said a 2017 Ford Fusion driven by Tori Dakota Bunch was struck head-on by a 2016 Ford F-150 traveling in the wrong direction. The pickup was in the southbound lane while moving northbound.
The impact was violent. Both vehicles were heavily damaged on contact. Emergency responders rushed in as debris spread across the highway.
Shortly after the collision, the Ford F-150 caught fire. Smoke and flames quickly grew, creating a dangerous situation for anyone nearby.
Good Samaritans at the scene acted immediately. They pulled the teenage driver from the burning pickup before it was fully engulfed, likely preventing an even greater loss.
Despite the rapid response, Tori Dakota Bunch was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said the force of the crash left no chance for survival.
The driver of the pickup, Elias Shane Kincanon, was taken to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo. He remains under medical care with serious injuries. A second crash happened moments later when another vehicle struck the disabled truck, but no additional injuries were reported.
