DPS: 1 dead after jumping from truck before it fell into canyon in Armstrong County

One person died after jumping from a vehicle before it plunged into a canyon Tuesday afternoon in Armstrong County, authorities said.

A 2007 Atlas Copco RD20, a water well drilling truck weighing at least 80,000 pounds, was heading north on Hwy. 207 about 22 miles south of Claude at about 2:30 p.m. Aug. 20, according to a statement from the Texas Department of Public Safety. The vehicle was traveling down a steep grade, when, for an unknown reason, the driver could not control the vehicle on the steep grade and jumped from the driver's seat onto the roadway, according to the DPS.

The drilling truck veered off the east side of the roadway, crashed through the guardrail, and fell into the canyon.

Cesar Lopez-Delgadillo was pronounced dead at the scene by Armstrong County Justice of the Jana Lemons.

The posted speed limit was 50 mph and road conditions were dry and clear at the time of the crash, which remains under investigation.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: DPS: 1 dead after jumping from truck before it fell into canyon in Armstrong County