A North Carolina mother of three is recovering after an alleged road rage attack left her with multiple skull fractures while she was working as a DoorDash and Uber Eats delivery driver. Authorities are continuing to search for the suspect, who remains unidentified.
The incident happened early Saturday morning in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and is under investigation by the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators believe the assault may have been triggered by a road rage confrontation, but no arrests have been made.
Quick Facts
- Victim: Christen Phillips, 34
- Location: Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Incident: Alleged road rage assault
- Occupation: DoorDash and Uber Eats delivery driver
- Injuries: Multiple skull fractures requiring surgery
- Investigation: Ongoing; suspect has not been identified
Who Is Christen Phillips?
Christen Phillips is a 34-year-old North Carolina resident and mother of three who had been delivering food for DoorDash and Uber Eats to help support her family between jobs.
Speaking to WWAY, Phillips said she turned to gig work to supplement her household income.
“I was supplementing income in the in-between by doing DoorDash and Uber Eats and stuff, so that’s kind of how I ended up there that night,” she said.
Phillips remains hospitalized at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center as she continues recovering from her injuries.
How the Alleged Road Rage Attack Unfolded
According to Phillips, the incident began shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday while she was picking up a DoorDash order from a McDonald’s restaurant near Jacksonville.
She said a Range Rover was stopped at a green light in a left-turn lane, prompting her to honk after the vehicle failed to move.
“The person who was sitting there at the light was just sitting there, but the light was green, so I honked and he did go,” Phillips recalled.
After leaving the intersection, Phillips said the driver allegedly followed her to the customer’s delivery address.
When she arrived around 2 a.m., she noticed the individual standing near her vehicle holding what she described as a wooden bat.
“I just remember saying to him, ‘Are you intimidated by me? Because I don’t think you need that. I’m half your size,'” Phillips said. “And that’s all I remember.”
She believes she was struck in the head moments later and lost consciousness.
Victim Drove Herself to the Hospital
After regaining consciousness, Phillips said she realized the suspect had left the scene.
Unsure of what to do and not wanting to disturb nearby residents in the middle of the night, she drove herself to the hospital.
“It was the middle of the night. I didn’t want to wake anybody up, so I took off and just started driving toward the hospital because I wasn’t sure what else to do,” she said.
Medical staff immediately admitted her after seeing the severity of her injuries.
Doctors later confirmed that she had suffered multiple skull fractures and required surgery.
“I had some fractures here on the left side of my head,” Phillips said. “They had to do a pretty big incision.”
Investigation Remains Active
The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office continues investigating the alleged assault.
Sheriff Christopher Thomas said detectives are working to identify the Range Rover involved and determine who was inside the vehicle at the time of the incident.
Authorities have not announced any arrests and continue to ask the public for information that could help identify the suspect.
Thomas also reminded motorists to avoid engaging with aggressive drivers, noting that road rage incidents can quickly become dangerous.
“You never know what the person in another vehicle is going through or how they are going to react, so you should be careful,” Thomas said, according to WWAY.
Phillips Shares Safety Message
As she recovers, Phillips is encouraging other drivers to remain inside their vehicles if they ever feel threatened during a confrontation on the road.
She also believes the suspect may have assumed she would not survive the attack.
“I do honestly believe that when the guy hit me in the head and I was knocked out, I believe he thought I was dead and he left me for dead,” Phillips said. “It’s a miracle I woke up.”
Authorities Seek Information
The investigation remains ongoing, and the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about the alleged road rage attack or the Range Rover involved to contact investigators.
As detectives continue gathering evidence, officials hope public tips will help identify the person responsible and advance the case.