'She was a wonderful mom,' family of woman killed in Conover crash

CONOVER, N.C. — Flowers and several crosses sit feet from where Kristen Lawson, 26, died along Keisler Dairy Road near Conover.

Investigators said Rory Hinson sped away from an attempted burglary that caused a crash that killed Lawson, a young mother of a 7-year-old, in March.

Hinson crossed the center line and struck the car Lawson was in head-on, police said.

The Highway Patrol accused Hinson of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, larceny and possession of a stolen vehicle.

"Had just loaded up some outdoor furniture and when he seen us, he took off flying out of the neighborhood,” a witness said.

Janet Lawson, Kristen’s mother, was working the night of the wreck and saw the ambulances drive past but had no idea they were heading to a crash involving her own daughter.

Janet said she is raising her 7-year-old granddaughter, whose birthday was on the same day her mother died.

"She was a wonderful mom,” Janet Lawson said. “She loved her daughter. She was a really good mom."

At the accident scene, Kristen's daughter put up a cross for her mom on Mother’s Day.

Janet Lawson believes Hinson should face felony charges for her death.

"He should stay behind bars for the rest of his life,” Janet Lawson said. “I hate that we have to pay for him being there, but I think he should have to pay."

Channel 9 asked the district attorney about additional charges in the case.

He said he can't answer that question and would have to look into it further.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com: