The 84-year old driver of a box truck that crashed into the poles of a sign on I-85 southbound just after noon Thursday did not survive the accident, according to N.C. State Highway Patrol.

State police said Elmer Lee Carpenter of Winston-Salem died at the scene. Investigators say Carpenter was traveling south on I-85  near the Peach Orchard Road exit in a white box truck when he ran off the road at approximately 12:13 p.m., traveling into the median, striking a guardrail and an overhead highway signpost known as a gantry sign.

The cab of the truck caught fire, and firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze while trying to divert traffic. Officials have said there were a few fender-benders around the scene as passing drivers were distracted by the crash. Contents of the cargo portion of the truck are still unknown.

The front cab of the truck was split by the impact. During the on-scene investigation, the northbound and southbound lanes of I-85 were partially closed in the area for two hours, and traffic was backed up in both directions as well as off the Peach Orchard exit.

The initial investigation indicates speed and alcohol were not contributing circumstances in the collision, but they have not said what might have caused Carpenter to run off the highway. If more information becomes available, this story will be updated.