Lenoir – On Thursday, May 9, at approximately 3:00 a.m., the NC State Highway Patrol responded to and investigated a fatal collision in Caldwell County on Indian Grave Road near Indian Trail. A 2006 Ford Explorer was traveling west on Indian Grave Road, crossed the centerline, drove off the left side of the road, overturned, and struck a tree.
The driver, Estefani Socorro Mendoza Merlos, 24, of Lenoir, succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
The initial investigation indicates excessive speed for conditions to be the contributing factor in the collision. During the on-scene investigation, the roadway was partially closed in the area for approximately two hours.