Kiwi in coma after crash in United States

Cara-Joy Purkis. Photo / Givealittle.co.nz

A Christchurch-born woman, Cara-Joy Purkis, is in a coma in a Texas hospital after her vehicle was hit by an 18-wheel truck two weeks ago.

Friends and family says Cara-Joy Purkis, aged 30, missed a stop sign at an intersection and got hit with the full force of the truck travelling at speed.

She was air-lifted to the north-west city of Lubbock where she has undergone surgery. She remains in a coma.

Yesterday, her step-sister Courtenay Washington launched a fund-raising effort to bring Cara-Joy back to New Zealand, saying she had no health insurance and would be moved to a 'care facility' with a lower level of care she is receiving at the University Medical Centre.

"She needs to be in a hospital so getting her home is our number one priority.

"We feel optimistic that with proper hospital care we will eventually get her back, but the reality is that this will happen in New Zealand far more easily than in the US. She needs to be at home surrounded by her family," said Courtenay.

"People have generously donated just over $20,000 but it could cost around US$270,000 ($NZ415,000) just to Medevac her home, and then there is the cost of ongoing care, so you can see how far we have to go," said her step-sister.

"Our parents are retirement age and we are all helping as much as we can but we thought we need to get some more financial support for what is certain to be almost unaffordable."

Family and friends have set up two fundraising pages:

• GoFundMe page
• GiveALittle page