Benson Woman, 80, Dies Following Crash

BENSON – An 80-year-old Benson woman died from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle crash on Elevation Road, but a neighbor who was first to arrive at the scene said the woman told him another vehicle had forced her off the roadway.

The collision occurred Saturday, October 31, at approximately 5:23 a.m. on Elevation Road near South Walden Pond Road.

According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Sandra Howard Benson was traveling northbound in a gray 2012 Ford Taurus when her vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a ditch.

Benson was wearing a seat belt, and the vehicle’s airbags deployed.

She was transported to WakeMed in Raleigh with what initially appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries. However, the Medical Examiner’s Office notified the Highway Patrol of her death several days later.

Sgt. Nathan White said a pathologist determined Benson’s fatal injuries resulted from the motor vehicle collision.

A neighbor who arrived at the accident scene shortly after the collision told JoCoReport that Benson said another vehicle had forced her off the roadway. The neighbor said they did not discuss the description of the other vehicle.

The Highway Patrol has not confirmed that another vehicle was involved.

Sgt. White said troopers found no physical evidence at the scene indicating another vehicle was involved.

White acknowledged that the absence of such evidence does not necessarily mean another vehicle was not involved.

Troopers are asking anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has information about another vehicle possibly involved to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the North Carolina State Highway Patrol at 919-934-2186 or 919-733-3861.