A Hagerstown man was killed yesterday when his car ran off Interstate 70 west of Frederick, hit a median guardrail and exploded in flames, state police reported.

According to witnesses, Derek M. Schoen, 56, was driving west in the left lane of I-70 about a quarter-mile west of Ridge Road at 4:40 p.m. when his car ran off the road.

Mr. Schoen's vehicle hit a metal guardrail in the median and flipped over, throwing him about 25 feet.

The car's gas tank apparently punctured, and the car burst into flames.

Mr. Schoen, who had been alone in the car, was taken by ambulance to Washington County Hospital in Frederick. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital, authorities said.