HOUSTON – The driver of an 18-wheeler is dead and empty beer cans are scattered all over the road after the truck crashed in north Harris County.

Deputies said the accident happened around 3:45 a.m. on the southbound lanes of the North Freeway at FM 1960.

The driver of the 18-wheeler lost control of his truck and crashed into a guardrail before going into a grassy area and hitting a tree, deputies said.

Authorities said the driver was not wearing a seatbelt and the impact sent him through the windshield, landing in the outside lane of the North Freeway. The driver was a 35-year-old African American man.

“The impact of the tree sheared open the tractor portion of the 18-wheeler and unfortunately the driver was not restrained by a seatbelt,” said Sgt. Simon Cheng. “He was ejected from the vehicle and landed on the outside lane of 45.”

The damage to the truck caused its load of empty beer cans all over the area. Authorities said the truck was split into several pieces and it will take multiple machines to remove them.

Authorities said they are still working to determine the cause of the crash but a blown tire or fatigue could have played a role.

According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, all lanes except the outside one are back open. Crews are still working on cleaning up the on-ramp and the service road.