Patricia Mahoney dies in fatal Haywood County car crash
Fatal Haywood County car crash death of Patricia Mahoney – Obituary
Patricia Mahoney, 62, from Southern Pines, tragically lost her life after driving off a closed section of Interstate 40 into a gorge in western North Carolina. The incident occurred when Mahoney ignored a “Road Closed” sign and concrete barriers, traveling down an embankment more than 100 feet into the Pigeon River area. After being rescued, she was rushed to the hospital but later died from injuries caused by the fall, with an autopsy report confirming that she went into cardiac arrest.
Toxicology reports indicated that Mahoney had antidepressants, anxiety, and seizure medications in her system, but at safe levels. According to previous reports, she had taken an exit due to hurricane damage and ended up driving the wrong way, leading to the crash at mile marker four. The rescue teams from Junaluska Fire Department and Grassy Fork Fire and Rescue employed a rope system to extract Mahoney from her vehicle. Authorities are still investigating the reasons behind her decision to drive on the damaged section of I-40.