Update: Man dies in head-on crash on I-40 and Eastern, Amarillo police report

The Amarillo Police Department (APD) said a man driving down the wrong way of the interstate died when his vehicle crashed head-on into a semi on Interstate 40 and Eastern early Wednesday.

At about 2:40 a.m. July 17, Amarillo officers were sent to the 4400 block of East I-40 on a reported head-on collision involving a vehicle and semi, APD said.

According to APD, Nicholas Bechthold, 34, was driving a 2018 Chevy Silverado heading west in the eastbound lanes of the interstate when it collided with a semi-truck that had been traveling east.

Bechthold was pronounced dead at the scene. Potter County Justice of the Peace Gary Jackson responded and ordered an autopsy.

APD's Traffic Investigation Unit is investigating the incident.

Police issued advisories earlier at the time of the crash, warning the public that officers were working at the scene of the fatal crash around 4:53 a.m. The eastbound lanes were blocked for the police investigation but were cleared by around 8:30 a.m., when normal traffic resumed in the area.

This is a developing story; more information will be added as it is released.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Update: Man dies in head-on crash on I-40 and Eastern, Amarillo police report