Driver killed when truck carrying cattle overturns

CONCORD, N.C. -- A tractor-trailer overturned on Interstate 85 in Concord Tuesday morning, killing the driver and throwing cattle out of the rig.

The ramp from Concord Parkway to I-85 was closed for much of the day because of the crash.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol says a tractor-trailer hauling 33 heads of cattle crashed on the ramp from Concord Parkway to I-85 around 3:50 a.m. Tuesday.

Troopers think the driver of the truck may have fallen asleep, but they said it's too early to know what happened.

They say the truck went off of the interstate, over the ramp median and overturned.

 The driver of the truck, 49-year-old Lloyd Ward, died.

 Another man, 23-year-old Joshua Lynn Stedman, was asleep in the cabin portion of the rig and was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

Ward worked for Martin's Abattoir Wholesale Meat Company out of Godwin, N.C.

Crews were trying to round up some of the remaining cattle that managed to escape the wreckage.

MORE FROM WCNC

WCNC Section Front

Man shot in the face at North Charlotte home   Liquor supplier treats Mecklenburg ABC board to pricey dinner; ALE investigating   Towing complaints prompt city review   4 NBC affiliates ban PETA's Thanksgiving Day ad   Judge hears murdered girl's recorded testimony WCNC Section Front   Add WCNC headlines to your news reader: