A Watauga County man died Saturday after being involved in a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer.

The victim was Craven Presson of the Huckleberry Knob subdivision near Blowing Rock. Presson may have suffered a heart attack before the wreck. 

According to Jim Landis of Blowing Rock Fire and Rescue said the wreck occurred around 4:40 on Highway 321 between Mystery Hill and Aho Road.

Presson was pinned in his compact car briefly until rescue workers were able to free him.  WINGS Air Rescue airlifted Presson to Johnson City Medical Center, where he later died.

The truck driver suffered from minor injuries.  He was taken to Watauga Medical Center where he was treated and released.

Landis said the tractor-trailer flipped on its side and one of its diesel tanks ruptured, spilling fuel across all four lanes of the highway.  S.T.A.T., which is a hazardous materials clean up company, was contacted to clean up the spill.

Traffic was routed onto the Blue Ridge Parkway until Highway 321 could be reopened around 11:30 Saturday night.

The N.C. Highway Patrol is investigating the wreck.  High Country Radio has been in contact with the Highway Patrol and will pass along further details when they become available.

Blowing Rock Fire & Rescue, Boone Fire Department, NC Department of Transportation, S.T.A.T hazardous materials removal company, Watauga County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina Highway Patrol, Watauga County Emergency Management Office, Blowing Rock Police Department, and Watauga Medics all responded to the scene.

*Photos courtesy of Blowing Rock Fire and Rescue, the Watauga County Rescue Squad, and Mike Cole of Cole's Lawn Care

**Special thank you to local authorities for keeping High Country Radio up-to-date on the traffic issues surrounding the wreck, and to Kenneth Reece for covering the latest developments in the wreck on Saturday afternoon.