Investigators said a red car was traveling north on Route 4 when it suddenly crossed the median, striking a white van head-on. Authorities said the force of the impact ejected one driver and pinned a passenger inside her car for quite some time.

At this time, it is unclear if Tuesday’s wet weather was a factor in the accident, but it made the rescue efforts more challenging.

Authorities said motorist Hank Barnard was the first on the scene. He said a man was bleeding on the pavement and a woman was pinned inside her car.

Medics treated the driver who was lying in the road. They then focused their attention on the woman who was trapped. Authorities said the woman was pinned between the van that struck her and the bridge overhead.

The woman was taken to a local hospital by Careflight.

The rescue operation and the investigation closed Route 4 for more than three hours. Authorities said the driver who was ejected later died from his injuries.