A Roanoke Rapids man died this morning after apparently running a stop sign and into the path of an oncoming dump truck.

Trooper N.T. Hanline of the state Highway Patrol said Dennis Stephen Smith, 56, was traveling west on Big John Store Road north of Garysburg shortly after 8 a.m.

Hanline said witnesses were not sure why he ran the stop sign and it is not believed he intentionally ran it in his pickup truck.

Smith traveled onto Highway 301 and was struck in the right passenger door by a southbound dump truck traveling at approximately 55 miles per hour.

Smith, of Marshall Street, was not wearing a seatbelt and was partially ejected from his pickup. He died at the scene, the trooper said.

Hanline said the driver of the dump truck thought Smith, who was traveling at approximately 20 miles per hour, would stop. The dump truck driver had no time to stop, according to the trooper.

Smith had a history of medical problems and a medical examiner’s inquiry will be done to determine if any medications may have played a factor.

The driver of the dump truck was treated for a minor ankle injury.