BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — State troopers believe a driver intentionally drove a pickup truck through a field of wildflowers along Interstate 40 at the exit for Lake James.
The State Highway Patrol reported that the destruction of the sunflowers in Burke County was not an accident.
The Lake James exit sees heavy vehicle traffic during the summer months. State officials maintain the wildflower beds along state roadways as part of a long-running roadside program.
The North Carolina Wildflower Program was established in 1985 as a statewide beautification project. The program is funded through the sale of personalized license plates and direct contributions to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
In addition to highway aesthetics, state officials say the wildflowers serve a vital ecological function. The fields provide a source of nectar for pollination supporting bees, butterflies and moths.