Panhandle Teen Tori Dakota Bunch, 18, Killed in Wrong-Way Crash on SH 136 in Potter County
An early morning drive turned fatal on Tuesday, May 26, when a head-on collision on State Highway 136 in Potter County claimed the life of 18-year-old Tori Dakota Bunch of Panhandle, Texas.
The crash has sent shockwaves through the Panhandle community, where Tori was known as a bright, warm-hearted young woman who touched the lives of everyone around her.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the crash occurred at approximately 5:51 a.m., south of El Rancho Road.
A 2016 Ford F-150, driven by 17-year-old Elias Shane Kincanon of Amarillo, was traveling northbound in the southbound lane when it collided head-on with a 2017 Ford Fusion driven by Bunch. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, DPS confirmed.
Truck Catches Fire; Good Samaritans Pull Driver to Safety
Following the violent impact, the pickup truck caught fire. DPS stated that Good Samaritans who witnessed the crash pulled Kincanon from the burning vehicle before the fire spread further.
Kincanon was transported by ambulance to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo, where he was listed in serious condition. Tori Bunch was pronounced deceased at the scene from injuries sustained in the collision.
Authorities reported that both vehicles suffered significant damage. A secondary crash also took place shortly after the initial collision, when another southbound vehicle struck the back right quarter panel of the F-150.
No injuries were reported in that secondary incident. The crash remains under active investigation by DPS.
A Community Mourns a Young Life Cut Short
News of Tori’s death spread quickly across social media, where friends, family members, and community members gathered online to share their grief and offer prayers for the Bunch family.
Those who knew her described her as someone who always carried a smile and brought joy wherever she went.
“She was the sweetest girl. Always had a smile on her face,” one commenter wrote. A coworker remembered her as a wonderfully delightful young woman who brought joy to their workspace. Another friend simply wrote, “Amazing girl, always with a big smile.”
The outpouring extended beyond condolences for Tori’s family. Several community members also offered prayers for Kincanon and his family, acknowledging the weight of the tragedy on all sides.
One commenter wrote a prayer asking God to guide Kincanon and his family through the difficult road ahead.
Tori is survived by her parents, Sandy and Tony, and her brother, Koby.
Friends and family are asking the community to keep the Bunch family lifted in prayer as they navigate one of the most painful losses a family can face.
The crash on SH 136 serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of wrong-way driving on two-lane highways, where there is little room to maneuver and collisions at highway speeds are often unsurvivable.
DPS has not yet released information on what may have caused the driver to enter the wrong lane. Investigators are continuing their work to determine the full circumstances of the crash.
Tori Dakota Bunch was 18 years old.
