Dock L. Ragland Jr., 46, of Roxboro, was driving north on Duke Street around 2:15 p.m. when his 1985 Plymouth van drifted into the opposite lane and struck a southbound dump truck head-on, said Durham police Officer L.L. O'Brien, traffic services investigator.

Ragland was trapped in his Plymouth Voyager for more than 45 minutes in the sweltering heat before he was freed and taken to Duke University Hospital, emergency responders said. He was listed in critical condition Friday night. Police could not say Friday evening what caused him to veer into the opposite lane. They also could not say if alcohol or drugs were involved.

"I saw the guy slumped over. Oh, man," an onlooker said, shaking his head Friday afternoon at the scene of the accident. The man, who gave his name only as Keith, said he was driving toward the scene just after the crash when he saw a police officer in front of him jump out of his cruiser and run to the accident. "I was wondering why traffic was so slow until I saw the police officer jump out and start running," he said. "I drove right up to [the crash]."

The driver of the dump truck, which is owned by Earth Performance Inc. of Durham, was identified as Reginald Breckenridge Day Jr., of Raleigh. Police reported that he tried to avoid the accident and was treated at the scene for minor injuries. His dump truck sustained extensive front-end damage, and Ragland's van was a total loss.

Another onlooker, who gave his name as Frederick, said he was cutting grass at a house near the crash and had gone inside for a drink of water when the cars collided. "It sounded like a big explosion," he said. "When I looked outside, all I saw was dust." After the accident, the van rested sideways across the lanes of traffic, the front end crushed. Debris and shattered glass littered the intersection, as passers-by gathered nearby. Neighbor Teresa Chiles and her young son came up to see what was going on. Chiles said she was headed home when she found the street blocked off. "I was afraid," she said. "I was praying, because my kids get off the bus right around here around this time."

The accident forced police to close North Duke Street from Frasier Street to Reta Road for more than two hours while they cleared the road, and traffic was backed up a block south on Duke Street as cars were diverted. The street was reopened to traffic by 5:45 p.m. Police said Friday evening no charges had been filed, but the accident was under investigation.