More Details Regarding Crash On I-40 In Gorge

More details have been released regarding the crash of an SUV in the Pigeon River Gorge On Interstate 40. Authorities with Haywood County say that a woman was driving westbound on I-40 towards Tennessee, but traffic is supposed to exit the interstate at exit 7, the Harmon’s Den exit. NC Highway Patrol says that a 62 year old from Southern Pines, NC got off the interstate at exit 7, but then evidently made a wrong turn and got on to the eastbound lanes of I-40 heading west. A few miles down the road, the I-40 East got washed away by the recent flood. There was a cable across the road, but the woman drove through the cable and straight off the washed out roadway. Her vehicle landed about halfway down the bank and then tumbled down to the edge of the river.

Authorities say there were no skid marks where the woman attempted to stop, it was dark and she drove straight off the road. Junaluska Fire and the Grassy Fork Fire Department ran a system of ropes to repel down to the wreckage and were able to get the woman out of the SUV. She was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Tennessee where she died Sunday morning from her injuries. NC Highway patrol says more immovable barriers are now being put in place on the NC side of the road closure to keep vehicles from being able to get around them.