By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A pregnant Salisbury mother and her 5-year-old daughter were seriously injured in a Thursday morning single-vehicle crash at Barger Road near Stokes Ferry Road, said State Highway Patrol officials.

Felisha Ann Blackwelder, 24, was driving her 2003 PT Cruiser north on Barger Road with her daughter sitting in the back in a child-safety seat. She ran off the road to the right and struck a mailbox. The crash occurred at 10:58 a.m.

According to Trooper R.T. Coward, Blackwelder overcorrected, ran off the road to the left, struck a culvert, overturned and struck a tree. The vehicle came to a stop against a tree on the passenger side in front of a home at 2220 Barger Road. The car may have overturned twice, Coward said.

The mother and daughter were trapped inside the car. Emergency crews had to free them from the vehicle.

They were taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center by ambulance. Windy weather prevented a helicopter from flying them to the Winston-Salem hospital, authorities said.

Coward said Blackwelder was seven months’ pregnant and it appears doctors had to deliver the baby. He said he had no word on the baby’s condition. The 5-year-old was in serious to critical condition.

Rain was not a factor in the accident, but troopers don’t know what caused Blackwelder to run off the road. Blackwelder was wearing a seat belt.

In addition to the State Highway Patrol, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, Rowan Rescue Squad, Rowan EMS, and Union Fire Department also responded to the accident.

Charges are pending, Coward said.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.