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.
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.