GATESVILLE – A single-vehicle mishap near here early Friday afternoon claimed the life of a Gatesville woman.

Vivian Cheryl Matthews, 51, lost her life when she reportedly lost control of a 1995 Chevrolet passenger car she was operating on Harrells Church Road, RP 1116 off US 158. The accident report, filed by North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper W.T. Smith, revealed that Matthews lived on Harrells Church Road.

It was determined from Trooper Smith’s investigation that the vehicle was traveling north at 12:15 p.m. when it traveled off the right side of the road. Apparently, Matthews, who was traveling alone, attempted to steer the vehicle back into the lane of travel at which time she allegedly overcorrected, causing the vehicle to again travel off the right side where it impacted a tree.

Upon the arrival of Gates County emergency responders, who were just clearing an accident scene on US 13 near NC 137, Matthews had succumbed to her injuries.

The fatal wreck was the 14th of the year within the NC Highway Patrol’s Troop A, District II area (Bertie, Gates, Hertford). Four of those fatalities have occurred in Gates County.