Family warns of ATV dangers after 13-year-old dies from Father's Day crash

KINGMAN, Ariz. [CBS7]

A 13-year-old Arizona girl died after an all-terrain vehicle accident on Father's Day, prompting her family to speak publicly about the incident and its aftermath.

Myah Dennis was a passenger on a 750-cubic-centimeter quad driven by her 16-year-old sister, Kaitlyn, on June 21 near Kingman. The vehicle flipped after striking a deep rut in the terrain, trapping both teenagers beneath it. Despite each wearing a helmet, Myah sustained injuries that would ultimately prove fatal.

The immediate aftermath presented multiple obstacles to rescue efforts. Kaitlyn's cellular phone initially malfunctioned due to heat-related issues, preventing her from contacting emergency services immediately. Once her device began functioning, dispatchers struggled to locate the girls' precise position. Myah's parents learned of the accident through a crash detection notification sent via the Life360 application to their phones, alerting them faster than traditional emergency channels.

When James McClure, Myah's stepfather, and Jordyn, Kaitlyn's boyfriend, arrived at the scene ahead of emergency responders, they discovered a dire situation. After removing the quad from atop the teenagers, McClure found Myah unresponsive and exhibiting signs of oxygen deprivation. He initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation while awaiting paramedics. Myah was subsequently transported by helicopter to a Las Vegas hospital, where she remained for approximately two weeks before her family decided to cease life support.

The Dennis family arranged for Myah to donate her organs, an act commemorated with an honor walk through the hospital corridor. Relatives, friends and staff members lined the hallway to acknowledge her contribution. "Everybody showed up. She was hopefully in spirit there and shown how loved she actually was," Nicole McClure, Myah's mother, said of the ceremony.

The family intends for Myah's death to serve as a cautionary message to other parents. Nicole McClure emphasized the substantial weight and relative instability of all-terrain vehicles, noting that public awareness about the dangers these machines pose to adolescents remains insufficient. The family also advocates for parents to consider paid subscription features within the Life360 application, which can automatically notify emergency dispatchers when the system detects vehicle collisions.