Tuscola High School Cheerleader Killed by Fallen Tree

Clay County, NC -- May 28, 2024: Clay County EMS : Clay County EMS and Clay County Fire Department were

dispatched to the Penland Point Community Monday morning for a tree that had fallen on a camper trailer. Upon arrival, emergency services located a deceased 18-year-old female inside the damaged trailer. 

A large tree had been up-rooted by heavy straight-line winds and landed on the portion of the trailer that housed the victim. Clay County Emergency Management contacted the National Weather Service located in Morristown, TN regarding the possibility of the incident being secondary to a tornado. Morristown denied any tornado activity in Clay County during this event, but reported the straight-line winds were up to 50-70 mph. 

The victim was a senior at Tuscola High School located in Haywood County NC. She was visiting the Clay County area with friends over the long Memorial Day weekend. We direct you to Ivie’s Funeral Home in Murphy NC for further personal information. All of Clay County Emergency Services mourn this tragic loss with the victim’s family, friends, classmates, and community.

Tuscola HIgh School Mountaineers Cheer Leading Page: Kara Bryson 18

At Tuscola, we don’t call ourselves a cheer team… we call ourselves a cheer family, and there’s a reason. It may seem simple day in and day out, but in times like this, the gravity of those words and that “family” mean everything. We raise each other. We love each other. We cheer on our teams, our athletes, our school and each other…. This is a loss. A devastating loss. A tragedy to everyone, most importantly to her family and friends… but also a horrible loss to our cheer family…. We love you, Kara! Always a Tuscola Cheerleader. Always in our hearts. Forever missed!