GREENSBORO, N.C. — Drivers along US 29 in Greensboro were frustrated as traffic piled up near the MLK Drive exit last Tuesday.
Jackie Dunlap recorded a video of the stand-still traffic. Her frustration quickly turned to feelings of sadness and empathy when she realized the backup was caused by a deadly crash involving a moped.
Greensboro police said a vehicle hit the moped from behind, throwing off the man and woman who were riding it.
Police said the man was badly injured and 41-year-old Adrian Ranson died in the crash.
The driver responsible was nowhere in sight.
"You killed a good person, a good friend, a good mom, said Sunnie a long-time friend of Ranson. 'She's a forgiving person so she would still forgive. I'll pray for you."
Sunnie has known Ranson for more than a decade.
"We would go out of town and meet new people. She was spontaneous," Sunnie shared. "That's someone I knew I could count on. If I needed someone in the middle of the night, I could call her."
Learning her long-time friend died through a text message left Sunnie in disbelief.
"Her daughter was like my kid. She would come to stay with me when my kid wasn't there or her mom wasn't there," Sunnie said.
Sunnie said Ranson has three adult children who must now go through life without a mother.
"They're still struggling with the information but they're holding up," Sunnie said.
Sunnie is thankful for those who stopped that night to help until first responders arrived.
Monday, a week after the crash police said they arrested 60-year-old Donald Morgan.
He's facing several charges including hit and run and death by vehicle.
He was placed in the Guilford County Detentions Center under a $25,000 bond.