CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A vehicle plunged off the Interstate 485 flyover bridge 70 feet down onto Interstate 77 early Tuesday morning, killing the driver, according to the Highway Patrol.
[IMAGES: Driver killed when SUV crashes off I-485 flyover bridge]
Troopers said the crash happened just before 1 a.m. when the driver was traveling on the outer loop of I-485 from South Tryon Street trying to get on the off-ramp to I-77 northbound.
Authorities had to close I-485, I-77 and the ramp for more than three hours while crews cleaned up the crash scene.
Investigators told Channel 9 the driver was speeding and went airborne, sending the SUV plummeting over the bridge and landing in the median of I-77 -- three levels below.
Troopers said the driver was thrown from the vehicle and landed on the second level of the interchange before the SUV then fell onto I-77.
The driver, identified as 48-year-old Robert Kite, of Charlotte, died at the scene.
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