CLINTON TWP — A Sarver man apparently shot himself before his Jeep Liberty crashed along Goldscheitter Road.

Police initially believed Douglas McCullough, 52, died of injuries from the crash, which was discovered about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. But an autopsy later in the day found a bullet hole in McCullough’s head.

Police continue to investigate the death, and they are awaiting toxicology and additional lab results.

Investigators suspect that McCullough was traveling on the road when he shot himself with a .45-caliber pistol. His Jeep went off the road, traveling into woods before hitting a tree and flipping onto its roof. A passing motorist spotted the wreckage and called 911.

Butler County Chief Deputy Coroner John Hanovick pronounced McCullough dead at the scene at 7:45 a.m. Hanocivk declined to comment this morning.

A wrecker towed the Jeep to a salvage yard. A search of the vehicle later in the day turned up McCullough’s .45-caliber pistol.

He was a groundskeeper and maintenance man at the Brackenridge Heights Country Club for more than 25 years.

For four years, he had worked for the Fawn-Frazer Water Authority.

The Redmond Funeral Home in Freeport is handling funeral arrangements. His obituary is on Page 6.