By Crash News Writer 
Wilmington, NC (July 17, 2025) – A tragic single-vehicle crash early Tuesday morning claimed the life of a New York woman after her SUV veered off Interstate 40 near Wilmington and burst into flames.
According to reports, North Carolina State Highway Patrol troopers responded around 5:00 a.m. on July 15 to a fiery wreck near the I-40 eastbound off-ramp to Gordon Road in New Hanover County. The driver, identified as 38-year-old Lana Hatoum of Westhampton, New York, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators say Hatoum was traveling eastbound on I-40 in a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee when she attempted to exit onto Gordon Road. For reasons still under investigation, her vehicle ran off the left side of the ramp, struck multiple trees, overturned, and caught fire. She was the only occupant in the vehicle.
Emergency personnel arrived shortly after the crash, but were unable to rescue the driver due to the intensity of the fire. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
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PLEASE TAKE NOTICE
The information in this article is based on initial reports from local authorities and may be subject to updates as investigations continue.
- The identities of those involved in the incident have not been released pending official confirmation and notification of next of kin.
- Further details about the accident, including toxicology results and potential charges, will be shared as they become available.
- Road closures and traffic updates related to the accident scene can be found by checking with local authorities or traffic monitoring services.
The content of this news story is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice. All information is based on public reports at the time of publication, and details may change as investigations progress. Readers are encouraged to seek legal counsel if they or someone they know have been involved in a similar incident. The publisher assumes no liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this article. Learn more with our disclaimer.