A Garysburg man died today following a crash which most likely occurred early this morning but wasn’t discovered until this afternoon.

Trooper T.J. Blount of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said 69-year-old Steven Wayne Rowell was traveling south on the interstate when he apparently ran off the road to the left.

The vehicle traveled in the median for about 800 to 900 feet where it struck a fence protecting a utility box and then hit a concrete structure which is part of the bridgework on the Roanoke River Bridge.

The vehicle then went down an approximately 80- to 90-foot embankment where it overturned and ejected Nowell close to the banks of the river. Blount said Rowell was not wearing a seatbelt.

Blount said the crash is believed to have occurred sometime this morning when traffic on the highway was sparse.

The crash wasn’t discovered until two men riding four-wheelers found the overturned pickup and Rowell shortly after 2 p.m. The men had been riding the ATVs off Long Farm Road.

The brakes to the pickup were never applied, Blount said, indicating Rowell may have fallen asleep or had a medical issue.