An unbelted motorist rolled his pickup truck early Friday in White Bear Lake and was thrown to his death, authorities said.

The crash occurred shortly after midnight on Hwy. 61 near Buffalo Street, killing 53-year-old Steven Buche of Lino Lakes, the State Patrol said.

The pickup was heading north, drifted left into the median and rolled onto its roof, pitching Buche from behind the wheel.

The driving surface was dry at the time, the patrol said.

PAUL WALSH