An 85-year-old man was life flighted Friday morning following a wreck with an 18-wheeler that blocked traffic on U.S. Hwy. 331 for more than 45 minutes.

Florala chief Sonny Bedsole said the accident occurred at approximately 8:48 a.m., when an 18-wheeler, traveling north on U.S. Hwy. 331, collided with a Chevrolet pickup truck just south of the Florala Airport.

“At this point, it appears that the pickup crossed the centerline into the oncoming lane of traffic, striking the 18-wheeler,” Bedsole said. “The driver of the pickup truck suffered very serious injuries and was transported to Florala Memorial Hospital and later life flighted.”

The identity of the driver was later discovered as Delma Seay of Florala.

“The road was blocked for 45-minutes or so due to the fact that the victim had to be extricated from the pickup truck,” Bedsole said. “The 18-wheeler had severe damage to the front and undercarriage of the vehicle, but luckily the driver was OK. He complained some of soreness in the shoulder area, but that was because of the seatbelt.”