A woman is dead after she ate "destroying angel" mushrooms growing along I-684 in Bedford.

Officials say 61-year-old Zoila Tapia, of White Plains, was walking in the woods behind the rest stop on July 6 when she stumbled across the mushrooms. Less than 24 hours after eating the mushrooms, Tapia experienced nausea, diarrhea and stomach pains.Authorities say her death could have been avoided with penicillin or other medications, however, they say she sought help too late. The state Department of Transportation maintains that all of the killer mushrooms have been removed from the area.

The mushrooms are called destroying angels because they are known as one of the deadliest on the planet. They have a white stalk and sponge, which is roughly six to 16 centimeters wide. The mushrooms have a dry to slightly sticky coat. The grills are crowded together and attached to the upper stalk.While no one knows for sure why Tapia consumed the mushrooms, some drivers believe signs should be put up to warn the public not to eat the vegetation.

However, one man believes that would take away from the natural beauty of the area. "I think it's commonsense. You don't have to put signs up with something obvious. We don't eat pansies and they look good. You just don't eat them," says Bob Hardegen, of New Jersey.