Friends come to aid of Christmas crash victim

Friends describe 21-year-old Corey Mitchell as a loving and caring person who loves animals and is adored by the children she cared for at a Canton Township daycare center.
But the Chartiers Township woman has been in a coma in the intensive care unit at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh after being seriously injured Christmas night in a one-vehicle crash.
Mitchell was a passenger in a car driven by Holden Alexander, 17, of Houston, when it crashed on Route 519 (Western Avenue) in Chartiers near the ATI Allegheny Ludlum plant.
Alexander was driving north about 9 p.m. when his car left the road, spun and hit a utility pole near the plant entrance and flipped onto its roof. Alexander was trapped in the vehicle while Mitchell was ejected. Both were flown to AGH after the crash.
Chartiers police Chief James Horvath said police are continuing their investigation into the wreck.
Sue Wright, whose son, Gary Wright, is Mitchell’s boyfriend, said she is making a little progress each day. On Wednesday, she opened her eyes for the first time since the crash. In addition to severe brain damage, Mitchell sustained many broken bones, including her neck in three places, collarbone, tailbone, pelvis and ribs.
“She has a long road ahead of her,” Wright said Wednesday.
“We are taking it one day at a time. My son and I come to the hospital every day as does her mom and sisters. Friends have also come to visit. And everyone is checking on Facebook for updates.”
Wright said Mitchell and her son have been a couple for about three years. Both are graduates of Chartiers-Houston High School, but did not start dating until after they got out of school.
“She loves the outdoors. She went fishing with my son,” Wright said. “She loves running barefoot in the grass and putting flowers in her hair. She is a free spirit.”
“The kids at the daycare where she worked loved her,” she added. “My granddaughter adores her, saying she wants to be just like Corey when she grows up. She is so loving.”
Mitchell’s friends have started the Corey Mitchell Fight Team to help raise money for her very long and expensive road to recovery, including rehabilitation, therapy and many doctor visits.
Wright said a spaghetti dinner and Chinese auction is set for 2 to 6 p.m. Jan. 31, at the Masonic Lodge, 235 W. Pike St., Canonsburg. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 10 and under. Tickets will be available at the door or by calling Wright at 724-554-1966. She said donations that businesses have made for the dinner and auction are appreciated.
Friends and family members also have set up a GoFundMe account on Mitchell’s behalf at www.gofundme.com/ywfhrhc4.