A serious crash involving an SUV caused Southern Pines Police to complete close the northbound lanes of U.S. 1 for hours.

The wreck happened south of the Morganton Road exit before 9 p.m. on Friday.

Southern Pines Deputy Chief of Police Charles Campbell told Moore County News the SVU went off the side of the road, the driver lost control, and went down an embankment colliding with several trees.

Chief Mike Cameron of Southern Pines Fire said the vehicle was on fire when SPFD units first arrived. Firefighters had to create a water barrier between the driver who was pinned in, and the fire in the engine area. Due to the steep embankment and the position of the vehicle, Chief Cameron said it was a very challenging situation.

Firefighters were eventually able to rescue the male driver from the vehicle, and he was taken by Moore County EMS to Moore Regional Hospital. Chief Cameron said the man did suffer some burns in the crash. A helicopter was requested to Moore Regional Hospital to take the man to UNC Burn Center in Chapel Hill, according to SPFD. Flight radar information indicated the man was airlifted just before midnight.

Southern Pines Police say speed was a factor in the crash.