SUMMIT TWP — State police are investigating a fiery, one-vehicle crash early Sunday morning that killed a 29-year-old West Virginia man.

Craig Cole of Moundsville lost control of the vehicle he was driving about 3:30 a.m. on Route 422 just before Mitchell Hill Road.

A police report said Cole was driving in the eastbound lane when the vehicle struck the guide wire of a utility pole and went over an embankment. The vehicle was engulfed in fire when police got there.

Troopers tried to put out the flames with fire extinguishers but to no avail. Lick Hill volunteer firefighters were assisted by East Butler and Oneida Valley.

Cole was found dead in the vehicle. A passenger, also from West Virginia, apparently was able to get out, crawl up the 50-foot embankment and flag down another motorist, authorities said.

The passenger, whose name was not available, was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital where he was reportedly treated and released.

Emergency crews had to lift Cole's body up the steep embankment where Butler County Deputy Coroner Larry Barr pronounced him dead about 7 a.m. Sunday. An autopsy determined he died of severe head injuries.

Barr said Cole also had burns to the lower half of his body, his arms and face.