A Moore County man was killed Wednesday when he wrecked his car after he fled police following a traffic stop on 15-501, authorities said.

William Porter Cochrane III, 36, of Carthage, died in wreck, state highway patrol officials in Moore County said Saturday morning.

The highway patrol is investigating the incident at the request of Southern Pines police.

The incident started just before 11 p.m. Wednesday, Southern Pines Police Chief John Letteney said.

A Southern Pines police officer stopped a driver of a small car traveling south on U.S. 15-501 near Murray Hill Road after the officer observed "erratic" driving, Letteney said.

The vehicle stopped in the middle of the road, and the officer asked the driver to move to a safer location in a nearby parking lot. As the officer got back into his cruiser, the motorist performed a U-turn, and sped away. The officer pursued the vehicle for about a mile before the driver ran a red light near Brucewood Drive and drove off the road, Letteney said.

The car then "hit a ditch and flipped," the chief said. The driver was ejected and was dead at the scene.

Lettney said he asked the highway patrol to conduct the investigation since the incident happened when the driver fled from police.

Authorities closed the highway in both directions between Brucewood Drive and Morganton Road following the wreck.