SALISBURY — The investigation into a fatal single-vehicle crash continues after a Salisbury man struck a tree Thursday evening, N.C. Highway Patrol officials said.

Eric Maurice Johnson, 40, died a couple of hours after the 1:25 p.m. collision, said Trooper S.L. Herrin.

Johnson was traveling south on U.S. 52 in his 1995 Ford Cargo van when he crossed the center line to the left and struck the tree. He was wearing a seat belt and was helped out of the vehicle by firefighters. He was flown to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where he died at 3:04 p.m. Thursday.

“Impairment is not a factor, but we were unable to determine at this time what caused the crash,” Herrin said.

He said the crash could have been caused by a medical condition. Herrin said the patrol will have to wait for a report from the N.C. Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death.

No other vehicle was involved, but authorities received several reports to emergency communications when the crash occurred.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.