SHELBY, NC (WTVD) -- North Carolina troopers say four people have died in a wreck that wasn't discovered until friends started looking for the victims hours later.
The Highway Patrol told media outlets it appears a SUV driven by 26-year-old Sarah Spencer was going 80 mph on a rural Cleveland County road Sunday night when it left the road on a curve, slammed into a tree and ran down into an embankment covered with kudzu.
Authorities say the car was discovered several hours later by friends searching for the missing people.
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Troopers say the group was returning from a rafting trip.
The Highway Patrol identified the others who died as 34-year-old William "Billy" Roberson, 34-year-old Lewis "B.J." Dobbins and 28-year-old David Roberts.
Troopers are still investigating the crash.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Read more at wsoctv.com
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Officials work at the scene where the SUV went off the road. (WSOC)