By Melissa Manware
The Charlotte Observer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A man who lives near Interstate 77 at Clanton Road called 911 when he heard what sounded like a loud wreck about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Paramedics and firefighters responded to the interstate but couldn't find a wreck, according to the N.C. Highway Patrol.

About a half-hour later, the man called 911 again and said he could see lights. He then led police and firefighters to a pickup truck that had run off the interstate and down a steep embankment, Trooper R. Benge said.

The driver of the truck was pronounced dead. Benge did not release the 32-year-old man's name because his family hadn't been reached. He said it's impossible to know whether the time it took to find the driver could have made a difference. But he said the pickup was seriously damaged in the crash.

The truck had been headed northbound on Interstate 77, when it ran off the highway to the right, hit a light pole and went down the embankment, Benge said his investigation has shown. There were no skid marks and apparently no other cars were involved. He said the truck overturned but landed on its wheels.

Benge said the driver was wearing a seatbelt. The cause of the wreck remains under investigation, Benge said.

The wreck caused major traffic delays on the northbound side of the interstate. Another wreck happened a short distance away, on the southbound side, resulting in slow traffic in both directions.

Copyright 2007 The Charlotte Observer
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