Johnston County

Woman killed in Johnston County car crash during Tropical Storm Ian

Clayton police are investigating a fatal crash that took place during Hurricane Ian on Friday afternoon.
Clayton police are investigating a fatal crash that took place during Hurricane Ian on Friday afternoon. Getty Images/iStockphoto

Police are trying to determine if weather was a factor in a fatal crash on Covered Bridge Road in Clayton on Friday afternoon.

Police say Morgan Justine Sough was killed when the Chevrolet Malibu she was driving ran off the road and hit a tree at about 4 p.m. Johnston County and the rest of the Triangle were under a tropical storm warning at the time, as Tropical Storm Ian pushed through with heavy rain and wind.

Stough, 24, was alone in the car, which crashed near Brookhill Drive between O’Neil Street and City Road. She was declared dead at the scene, according to town spokesman Nathanael Shelton.

Police have not determined yet what caused Stough to veer off the road, Shelton said Saturday morning. No other vehicles were involved.

Gov. Roy Cooper listed Stough’s death as one of four in the state related to Tropical Storm Ian. Cooper also cited another fatal crash in Johnston County that killed a 25-year-old man Friday. The man lost control on Raleigh Road and hydroplaned into another vehicle during the storm, according to the governor.

This story was originally published October 1, 2022 at 11:05 AM.

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Richard Stradling
The News & Observer
Richard Stradling covers transportation for The News & Observer. Planes, trains and automobiles, plus ferries, bicycles, scooters and just plain walking. He’s been a reporter or editor for 38 years, including the last 26 at The N&O. 919-829-4739, rstradling@newsobserver.com.
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