A Fairbanks man driving on the Parks Highway was found dead Tuesday afternoon in his crashed truck, according to Alaska State Troopers, who are still investigating what happened.
Troopers said in a dispatch that they were informed just before 4 p.m. of the single-vehicle crash at Mile 149 of the Parks, involving 68-year-old Donald C. Leistikow.
"Leistikow was driving his 1997 Toyota T100 pickup truck southbound on the highway when, for undetermined reason, the vehicle left the roadway and drove into the ditch of the northbound side of the highway," troopers wrote. "Leistikow was pronounced deceased at the scene."
Leistikow is believed to have died from natural causes, troopers said, but his exact cause of death hasn't yet been determined.
Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said in an email that it wasn't clear whether Leistikow was alive for any period of time following the crash, which occurred "shortly before it was reported." An autopsy will be conducted.
"He did not appear to have life-threatening injuries," Peters wrote. "Life-saving measures occurred prior to trooper arrival but the man did not survive the incident."