On Friday, May 26, at approximately 10:00 a.m., the NC State Highway Patrol responded to and investigated a fatal collision in Lincoln County on NC 274 near Sorrells Baxter Road. A 1997 Ford Mustang was traveling north on NC 274, drove off the right side of the road, drove back onto the roadway, crossed the center line, traveled off the left side of the road, and struck a tree.

The driver of the Mustang, Misty Lovelace Palmer, 47, of Newton, succumbed to her injuries at the scene.

The driver of the Mustang was not restrained by a seatbelt.  During the on-scene investigation, NC 274 was closed in the area for two hours.  The initial investigation indicates excessive speed to be the contributing circumstance in the collision.