A man suffered fatal blunt force trauma to the head and chest in a one-vehicle crash early Saturday in Salem Township.
A vehicle driven by Shelby G. Griffiths, 46, of Salem Township failed to negotiate a slight bend along State Route 819 at Kaufman Road, left the roadway and struck a utility pole, according to a report from the Westmoreland County Coroner.
Griffiths' vehicle continued into a field and rolled several times, coming to a rest on its roof, according to a release from state police in Kiski Valley. Griffiths was thrown from the vehicle, which caught fire, according to police.
Griffiths was transported to Excela Health Westmoreland, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
He was the lone occupant of the vehicle, according to the coroner's report, which put the time of death at 4:11 a.m.
It is unknown if Griffiths was wearing a seat belt, if his air bag deployed or if he was using a cell phone.
An autopsy will not be performed, and toxicology results will not be available for several weeks, the coroner's report stated. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
Nicole Chynoweth is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-850-2862 or nchynoweth@tribweb.com.
