Durham — A southbound tractor trailer ran off the side of U.S. 85 early Saturday morning after hitting a construction barrier near Red Mill Road. The accident backed up traffic for hours.

N.C. Troopers said the accident was not caused by the road construction being done in the area, but by the driver leaning over to tune his radio.

"They've got the decreased speed of 45 miles per hour in the construction area," said Trooper Jimmy Anderson. "A lot of them slow down, but most of them don't."

Officials said the concrete barrier was about the only thing that saved the driver's life after his truck ran off the road and overturned.