Southern Pines woman dies after ignoring barricades, drives off washed out section of I-40

HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- The woman who drove off a washed-out section of I-40 in Haywood County has died, authorities confirmed.

The crash happened around 8 p.m. Saturday near the 3.5 mile marker.

The 63-year-old woman from Southern Pines, identified as Patricia Mahoney, entered a section of the road closed due to storm damage from Hurricane Helene, and her vehicle fell into a large hole. Authorities said she made a wrong turn and was driving the wrong way on the interstate.

Multiple crews set up a rope system to help the victim out of the hole near Pigeon River, the Junaluska Fire Department said in a Facebook post on November 9. The vehicle was about 100 feet from the roadway.

Mahoney was taken to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries.

Authorities said more barricades have been added since the crash.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the crash happened Sunday. It happened Saturday.