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Man dies after his car hits tree head-on

SLIPPERY ROCK TWP, Lawrence County — A township man died Tuesday night in a fiery crash near his home, authorities said.

Mark Spencer, 41, was headed home about 8:10 p.m. when he lost control of his 2003 Ford Focus and slammed head-on into a tree along rural Countyline Road in Slippery Rock Township.

Moments later the car burst into flames.

An off-duty paramedic and firefighter happened to drive by and saw the flames. However, the intensity of the fire prevented him from getting to the car.

“(The paramedic/firefighter) saw (the victim) inside but he wasn’t moving,” said Lawrence County Deputy Coroner Rich Johnson, who pronounced Spencer dead about 8:40 p.m.

“I think he probably died on impact, and then came the fire,” Johnson said.

The primary cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, neck and chest.

State police said Spencer was eastbound on Countyline Road near the State Gamelands when for an unknown reason he went off the south berm and into the tree.

Authorities said the road was wet from the rain but it was not known if that was a factor in the wreck. Alcohol or drugs was not suspected.

The Slippery Rock and Scott Township volunteer fire departments were called and put out the fire.

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