Car accident claims life of Hedley girl

A Hedley Junior High student lost her life Saturday, May 6, in a two-vehicle accident one mile west of the community.

Funeral services for 12-year-old Kylie Allison Monroe were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 17, at the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Kirk Watson, Rev. Matthew Stidham, and Rev. Anthony Knowles officiating. Interment followed in the Rowe Cemetery near Hedley with arrangements by Robertson Funeral Directors.

Department of Public Safety Trooper Lynn Mays said Monroe’s mother, Katherine Monroe, age 43, was traveling eastbound on US 287 at about 6 p.m. Saturday in a 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier when she slowed her vehicle to turn left at the crossover near the family’s fruit stand.

Erika Roberts, 34, of Amarillo, was driving a 2016 Jeep Renegade directly behind Monroe. She failed to control her speed and crashed into the rear end of the Cavalier.

Kylie Monroe, traveling in the backseat of the Cavalier, was pronounced dead on scene by Donley County Justice of the Peace Pam Mason.

Mrs. Monroe and a 10-year-old female front seat passenger from Anson were air-lifted to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo, where they were treated and released.

Roberts’ vehicle caught fire after the crash. She was able to get out of the vehicle and was not injured.

“This is a case of driver inattention,” Trooper Mays said. “Roberts appears to have been going highway speed, 70 to 75 miles per hour, and a witness confirmed she was not speeding.”

Mays said all occupants involved in the crash were wearing seat belts. The road conditions were dry and no other vehicles were involved.

The accident remains under investigation, and no charges had been filed as of Monday. An autopsy was ordered in the case.

Responding to the scene were the Clarendon and Hedley fire departments, Associated Ambulance Authority, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the Donley County Sheriff’s Office.

Hedley School Principal Reida Penman said Monroe was a sixth grader and played on the junior high basketball team.

Hedley ISD brought in a crisis team from the Region 16 Education Service Center Monday to meet with students and teachers in small groups, and the school canceled classes Wednesday.