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 of Shenandoah at 10:08 a.m.
The crash happened just before 9:30 a.m. at the "Y" intersection of Airport and Taylorsville roads, about three-quarters of a mile off Route 901.
State police at Schuylkill Haven said French was driving a Volkswagen Passat west on Airport Road, went through the intersection and then went off of the road, where the car struck a tree head on.
French was trapped 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.
Szczyglak said a virtual autopsy was conducted on French in Hazleton, but the results were not immediately available Saturday.
Airport and Taylorsville roads were closed in the area for more than an hour while troopers investigated and the car removed from the scene.