Mother of teen involved in serious accident speaks out about the road

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In February, when Thomas Crain was rushed to the hospital, his odds of surviving were slim.

Crain was making a left turn onto N. Sharron Amity Road when a driver slammed into his driver side door.

"He will never be exactly the person that he was before," his mother, Lucy Crain, said.

Thomas Crain spent 76 days in the hospital and even now is going through therapy.

"His life is different now, it's changed. He has short term memory issues, he has processing speed issues, he has stamina issues, cognitive functioning is impaired," Lucy Crain said.

She has made it her mission to make sure it doesn't happen to someone else.

She wants a light added nearby.

Monday night, with his mother by his side, Thomas Crain gave a brief but emotional speech to city council about how the accident has impacted his life, encouraging the DOT to make improvements.

"This fall all of my classmates went off to college, most of them to UNC and I stayed behind. I am working hard to go to college but I may never be able to go," Thomas Crain said before breaking down while his mother continued his prepared speech.

The remarks drew a standing applause by the audience and city council members.

Councilwoman Beth Pickering said, "I can guarantee you that you have the commitment of the full council to look at that closely."

But the DOT said at that meeting it's not that simple.

The said the number of accidents in that area is not unusual and to add a stoplight would require widening the road to add turn lanes.

While the Crain's concerns will be looked at, Lucy Crain said if nothing else, she wants drivers to slow down and be more aware.

Thomas Crain's dream school is UNC.

He received his acceptance letter while in a coma.

Lucy Crain said he will go to college, but cant say if it will be UNC, or when.

WSOC