A Nash County woman was found unconscious in a utility building located beside the Helton United Methodist Church located just off N.C. 194 in the Helton community at approximately 5 p.m. Tuesday. She died while en route to Ashe Memorial Hospital for treatment, officials said.

According to Ashe County Sheriff James Williams, the cause of death is unknown, but early indications are foul play is not suspected.

“We’ll have to wait until we get the autospy (report),” Williams said.

According to Williams, a 911 call was placed to the Ashe County Communications Center late Tuesday afternoon by members of the church where the unidentified woman was found.

Williams said deputies and emergency services personnel responded and found the woman unconscious in the utility building. While being transported to the hospital, the woman died, he said.

Williams said he spoke with the woman’s husband, who lives in Nash County. The Nash County man told Williams his wife had a medical condition and may have been experiencing seizure-like episodes.

The woman’s husband told Williams his wife had left their home in Nash County over the weekend and driven their daughter to college in Stauton, Va., with plans to visit the Outer Banks after dropping her off.

Williams said the woman’s husband told him she became lost after leaving Staunton, Va., Monday night and spent the night in Bristol, Tenn. Williams added, the woman’s husband had not spoken with her since she left Bristol, Tenn., on her way to the Outer Banks.

Her car was found at the church.

The State Bureau of Investigation has been requested by Williams to help with the investigation.