Emergency workers at the scene of the crash.
Updated 1 hr 40 mins ago
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- A person is dead after a vehicle went off Interstate 40 westbound near Jones Sausage Road and hit an area of trees early Wednesday morning.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol said the Kia Sorrento was spotted by passing drivers at daylight, but the crash likely happened hours before.
Based on a preliminary investigation, troopers said the driver may have hydroplaned on the wet highway before travelling through the right shoulder and into a tree.
There were lengthy delays in the area while emergency crews recovered the body and pulled the SUV onto a wrecker.
All lanes of the highway reopened around 9 a.m.
The name of the driver was not released pending notification of next of kin