Accident on I-485 leaves Union Co. official's daughter in coma

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — The daughter of a Union County town official is in a coma after a hit-and-run accident in which troopers suspect road rage was involved.

Christina Morris, 21, is in a medically induced coma at CMC Main after the accident on the inner loop of Interstate 485 Thursday afternoon.

Morris is the daughter of Indian Trail town councilwoman Darlene Luther.

Troopers said Morris was in the left lane when the driver in front of her in a silver SUV suddenly hit the brakes.

Troopers said Morris moved to the right lane to pass the SUV, but when she tried to move back into the left lane after passing him, investigators said the driver came after Morris in an apparent road rage incident.

"He sped up and hit her while she was moving over," said Scott Luther, Christina's stepfather.

Luther said Morris, who wanted to be a pharmacist and was studying at SPCC, is now in critical condition at CMC, with punctured lungs, ruptured vertebrae and a tear in her spleen.

He said she was lucky to be alive.

Scott and Darlene Luther are now asking for the public's health to track down the other driver, who is only described as a black male in silver SUV, who would likely have black paint on his front bumper.

"I can't imagine why, how you could possibly leave somebody in that condition," said Luther.

Anyone with information should contact the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

WSOC