ST. CLAIRSVILLE — An allegedly impaired driver was hospitalized after crashing his vehicle into a tree early Monday morning along Interstate 70.

The driver, 25-year-old Andrew Mastracci of Michigan, lost control of his vehicle and ended up crashing into a tree around milepost 210 on Interstate 70 west, about 2 miles east of the Belmont/Morristown exit.

Sgt. Scott Bayless of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s St. Clairsville Post said the accident occurred around 2 a.m. It was not discovered, however, until around 6:30 a.m. when a passerby spotted the wreck.

Bayless said where the vehicle came to rest following the wreck would have been difficult to see until there was daylight.

Bayless said Mastracci was traveling in the westbound lane when he struck a roadway sign, an embankment, and then a tree. The vehicle overturned twice before becoming lodged in another tree.

Bayless said officials used mechanical means to extricate Mastracci from the vehicle. He was then transported to Wheeling Hospital.

Mastracci was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Bayless said his lack of a seatbelt may have contributed to some of the injuries he sustained.

Mastracci’s condition was unknown at press time. However, Bayless said he was alert when troopers spoke with him at the hospital Monday afternoon.

Mastracci has been cited for OVI, failure to control and for not wearing a seatbelt. Bayless said he is suspected to have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident.