Highway Patrol identifies woman killed in fiery crash near I-40 exit

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A New York woman was killed early Tuesday morning after a single-vehicle crash near the I-40 eastbound off-ramp to Gordon Road, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Troopers responded to the scene around 5:03 a.m. on July 15. Investigators determined that a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling east on I-40 when it attempted to exit onto Gordon Road.

The vehicle ran off the left side of the ramp, struck several trees, overturned, and caught fire.

The driver, identified as 38-year-old Lana Hatoum of Westhampton, New York, was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was inside the SUV.