HAYWOOD COUNTY, NC : Authorities provide more details after woman fatally crashes in gorge off of I-40 on Monday, 11th November 2024

A woman has died after driving past "Road Closed" signs on I-40 in Haywood County.

The woman's car ended up plunging into the Pigeon River Gorge. A rescue effort took place over the weekend.

There is now also a renewed call for drivers to adhere to road signage.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol says it was a 62-year-old woman from Southern Pines who got onto I-40 heading westbound. She drove all the way to Exit 7 where all drivers are supposed to exit the highway. But troopers say at that point, she made a wrong turn.

“At the [Exit] 7, there are concrete barriers across the road. It was Saturday night at about 8 [p.m.] – a few minutes after 8 [p.m.],” said Junaluska Fire Chief Charles Wood.

Wood was one of the first responders on the scene.

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