MANATEE — A truck driver was killed Monday afternoon when the front tire on his truck blew out and it flipped on its side while headed southbound on Interstate 75, just north of Ellenton.

Scott Edward Hinchliffe, 46, of Madeira Beach, was ejected from the truck and died at the scene, said Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Richard Moore.

After the blow-out, the truck hit the Erie Road overpass and tipped on its side, scattering debris from its load across three lanes of traffic.

“He lost control when it blew,” Moore said.

Hinchliffe was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash, troopers said.

There were no other vehicles involved and there was no passenger in the truck, which sustained $50,000 in damage. One of three I-75 southbond lanes was closed for a while and traffic backed up well past mile marker 229.

The accident was occurred at 3:10 p.m., according to FHP.