LAVELLE - A Hegins man died when the car he was driving slammed into a tree Saturday morning in Barry Township.
Eric A. French, 35, of 747 Hill Road, was pronounced dead at the scene by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Andrew Szczyglak, Shenandoah, at 10:08 a.m.
The crash occurred just before 9:30 a.m. at the "Y" intersection of Airport and Taylorsville roads, about 3/4 of a mile off of Route 901.
State police at Schuylkill Haven said the man was driving a 2006 Volkswagen Passat west on Airport Road, went through the intersection and then went off the road where the car struck a tree head on.
French was trapped inside the car and had to be removed by firefighters from Ashland, Lavelle and Gordon.
Damage to the car was extensive and firefighters had to remove the roof and part of the dashboard to free the victim.
Ashland EMS assisted at the scene and paramedics from Shenandoah EMS were initially called but canceled while en route when it was determined the man had died.
Szczyglak said a virtual autopsy was conducted on French in Hazleton but the results were not immediately available Saturday.
Both Airport and Taylorsville roads were closed in the area for more than an hour while police investigated the crash and the victim and his car removed from the scene.