North Carolina Driver Dies After Plunging Off Hurricane-Damaged Interstate

A woman bypassed barricades on a closed section of I-40, leading to a fatal crash in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Patricia Mahoney, 63, drove onto a closed section of Interstate 40, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene.
The accident occurred near the Tennessee state line, where floodwaters had washed away significant portions of the highway.
Emergency responders from North Carolina and Tennessee reached the vehicle, which had fallen 100 feet into a gorge.
Mahoney was airlifted to a hospital but succumbed to her injuries later that night.
Authorities are investigating why Mahoney bypassed the barricades, and they continue to warn drivers about ongoing road closures.