Staff report

KANNAPOLIS — A Kannapolis man died Tuesday after his vehicle crashed with a city firetruck.

Tyrell Carlton, 29, of Captains Watch Road, was taken from the Centergrove Road accident to Atrium-Northeast Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries.

Carlton was driving a Mazda Protégé when it crossed the center line and hit a Kannapolis Fire Department engine truck. The Kannapolis firefighter driving the truck, Casey Blackwelder, said he saw Carlton’s car crossing the line and applied his brakes and blew his horn, almost coming to a full stop, but could not avoid hitting the car.

Kannapolis police traffic investigators said speed was not a factor in the crash. They said it appears Carlton was either reaching for something in the back of the vehicle or suffering from a medical problem.

He was not wearing a seatbelt, officials said.

Carlton was the only person in the car.

The four firefighters in the engine truck were also taken to Atrium-Northeast, where they were treated and released with minor injuries.