LANCASTER TWP — State police have identified the elderly man who died Sunday in a vehicle accident on Interstate 79 near Zelienople.

Police said Elmer G. Goettel Jr., 80, of Pittsburgh died after being ejected from his pickup truck after it crashed into an embankment near mile marker 81 just past 8 p.m.

Police said Goettel was traveling in the right southbound lane when his truck began to drift into the left lane for an unknown reason. A vehicle driven by Tamara J. Wurst, 55, of Allison Park attempted to avoid Goettel's vehicle, but it ultimately hit the passenger side of her car.

After relatively minor contact, Goettel's vehicle drifted back to the right lane before leaving the road and hitting an embankment with considerable force, police said.

Goettel's vehicle rolled at least once and struck a small tree, during which time he was thrown from the vehicle. He was not wearing a seat belt.

Goettel was pronounced dead at the scene by Butler County Chief Deputy Coroner John Hanovick.

Wurst was not injured.

The wreck closed one of the southbound lanes on the interstate for about three hours, which caused a traffic backup during the end of the Easter weekend.