A 65-year-old man from Merced was killed after crashing in Atwater.

California Highway Patrol officers responded for reports of a big rig crash on Southbound 99 just North of the North Atwater Boulevard off-ramp at around 1:21 Wednesday morning.

Authorities say the driver was driving Southbound highway 99 on a 2022 Wester Star three-axle big rig pulling an empty tank trailer at an unknown speed.

Physical evidence at the scene indicated as the #3 lane started exiting to Northbound Atwater Boulevard the driver turned the big rig to the left from exit lane across the gore point where he struck the sand barrels in the gore point.

The big rig continued south through all of the sand barrels striking the temporary concrete barriers and began overturning to its passenger side.

The driver was thrown within the truck cab to the right and was partially ejected out of the passenger side window.

The big rig came to rest on its right side with the driver still trapped below it.

It was determined that the driver was not wearing his seatbelt, alcohol or drugs do not appear to have been a factor.

This collision is still under investigation.