Spring break tragedy
by MOLLY McVOY
Saint Mary's Editor
Tragedy struck Saint Mary's during spring break when senior Kristi Morris was killed in a car crash on her way to Myrtle Beach, S. C. "She was fearless and young. She wasn't threatened by the things that could hurt her," her mother, Margie Wasoski told WNDU. "I begged her not to go that night, not to drive straight through."
The accident occurred at 9:43 a.m. on Saturday, March 12, near Clinton, S. C., according to Cpl. Mark Gosnell, a spokesman for the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Morris was driving to Myrtle Beach with a friend, Sara Williams, a junior at Saint Mary's. They decided to drive through the night on Friday to gain time in South Carolina. Morris apparently fell asleep at the wheel and careened into the guardrail on the side of the highway. She was declared dead at the scene, while Williams suffered a broken pelvis and other broken bones, according to South Carolina police.
Williams was taken to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. She was released from the hospital on Monday. Williams was doing well and is expected to recover, according to the nursing staff of the Medical Center. She is currently traveling home with her father, according to Lisa Williams, her mother.
"[Kristi] hit a guardrail. It took down 12 feet of guardrail. It went through the car," her mother said. "She didn't live long, but she lived long enough to say `Sara I'm sorry' and I thought `that's my baby.' That's what she would say and I'm sure that's what was her last thought."
Morris, a resident of South Bend, graduated from Saint Joseph's High School in 1996. Diane Fox, an English teacher at the high school who had Morris for two classes, remembers her as quiet but caring.
"The thing about Kristi, was she went about quietly doing her thing," Fox said. "She never brought attention to herself but she was always there helping people." Fox explained that Morris stopped by the high school on Thursday to visit the staff before she left for break.
"I think that she was very interested in learning, especially in her major," Fox said. "She was looking forward to graduating, she was very interested in service." Morris, a social work major, was a volunteer at the Women's Care Center and taught CCD classes at Holy Cross School. Morris also served as an intern for Child Protective Services and was a pro-life advocate.
"Kristi intended on being here and touching hundreds of lives, and people who never knew her will miss her and not even know," Kristi's mom said.
The Morris family has established a trust fund, mainly to assist with funeral expenses. Any donations can be sent to: Kristi A. Morris Fund, St. Joseph Capital Bank, 3820 Edison Lakes Parkway, Mishawaka, IN 46545.
All News Stories for Tuesday, March 21, 2000
