SAN PEDRO >> A longshoreman at the wheel of a Ford Ranger that collided with a utility tractor rig at a Port of Los Angeles terminal died early Wednesday, authorities said.

Rochelle A. Taylor, 48, of Compton died at a Long Beach hospital about 1 a.m., port and coroner’s officials said.

The crash occurred about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday when Taylor’s Ford truck hit the utility vehicle broadside within the American President Lines sprawling terminal, port spokesman Phillip Sanfield said.

Utiilty tractors are used to move cargo containers about the 290-acre site.

Taylor, who might have hit his head on his windshield, was taken immediately to the hospital.

Los Angeles Police Department South Traffic detectives are investigating the crash. They were not available for an interview Wednesday morning.

APL shut down the terminal at 1:30 a.m. and sent workers home when word arrived that Taylor had died, Sanfield said.

The utility tractor driver also was injured. He was taken to a hospital, where he was treated and released.

Contact Greg Yee at 562-499-1476.