This story has been updated to correct an error.
ROMNEY, IN — A single-car crash on Friday afternoon resulted in a Lafayette man’s death, while efforts continue to identify the cause.
The Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department received a call about 1:21 p.m. Friday for a single-car crash in the 10700 block of South County Road 100 East, according to a news release. A nearby resident told deputies they saw the vehicle strike a tree head on.
When deputies arrived, they found the man, identified Monday after an autopsy as 56-year-old Steven Barnes of Lafayette. Barnes, who had to be extricated from the car, was the only occupant of the vehicle.
Police attempted first aid until an ambulance arrived, and he was then taken to a nearby hospital, the release said. The man ultimately died upon arrival at the hospital because of the severity of his injuries.
The preliminary investigation indicated that the car, a silver 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser, was driving north on County Road 100 East from the intersection with Indiana 28, when it veered left near the 10700 block. The car crossed the southbound lane, running off the left side of the road and into a large tree.
Police said Barnes was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The Tippecanoe County coroner said in a news release Monday that the cause and manner of his death are still pending, along with toxicology results.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Updated: Lafayette man dies in crash near Romney after car hits tree
Reporting by Jillian Ellison, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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