The Santa Clara resident was heading south on Interstate Highway 280 when he failed to negotiate the merge on to southbound state Highway 17 at about 7:55 a.m., according to San Jose police.
The 1983 Chevrolet pickup skidded on to an embankment and struck a tree, police said.
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
Alcohol was not considered to be a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.
