GARYSBURG – A single vehicle crash on I-95 near here Wednesday claimed the life of a Garysburg man.

A report filed by NC State Highway Patrol Trooper T.J. Blount showed that Steven Wayne Rowell, age 69, died in the mishap, one that occurred near the 176-mile marker on the Interstate in Northampton County (south of the NC 46 interchange).

Blount’s report revealed that Rowell’s vehicle traveled off the road to the left and collided with a fence, then a concrete bridge siding. The vehicle then went down an embankment and overturned several times, coming to rest on its top at the bottom of the embankment. Rowell, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.

NCHP Troop C/District 8 Sgt. A.S. Genao said the accident is believed to have occurred earlier on Wednesday. It was not discovered until after 2 p.m. when two men riding ATVs near the bank of the Roanoke River initially saw the overturned vehicle and then saw the deceased driver.

Additionally, Trooper Blount reported that the brakes of the vehicle were not applied, leading him to believe that Rowell either fell asleep or suffered from a medical issue while behind the wheel.