A 45-year-old Hughson driver whose work pickup crashed into an oncoming car on Hatch Road Thursday morning may have blacked out from suffering a heart attack.

The dead driver in the 5:16 a.m. crash in the 2600 block of Hatch Road was identified as Thomas Milton Taylor Jr. of Hughson.

The other driver sustained only minor injuries.

Traffic Officer Keith Kitcher said he believes Taylor may have died from medical issues since his crash wounds did not appear to be that severe. Police believe both drivers were traveling at about 45 mph, which is the speed limit on that stretch of road.

Taylor was driving westbound on Hatch Road in a Ford F-350 owned by his employer, Teichert Construction. Between Central Avenue and Payne Avenue, the truck suddenly veered to the left, crashing neatly head-on into a Chevy Tahoe going in the eastbound direction.

When Ceres Police officers arrived they found Taylor unresponsive in the driver's seat. Officers and emergency medical personnel attempted lifesaving efforts for over 30 minutes with negative results. Taylor was pronounced dead at a Modesto hospital.

The crash closed down Hatch Road between Central Avenue and Moffett Road for nearly two hours.

The Ceres Police Traffic Unit is conducting a fatal traffic collision investigation. The Ceres Police Department Traffic Unit and Traffic Investigators are encouraging anyone with information regarding the driver or the crash to call Officer Keith Kitcher at 538-5620.