A tragic early morning crash in Franklin County claimed the life of a man whose vehicle collided with heavy equipment in an active construction zone.

According to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, the incident happened around 5 a.m. Sunday in the 1600 block of North Hague Avenue in Franklin Township, just west of Columbus. Deputies were dispatched following reports of a serious crash involving a single vehicle.

Authorities say a silver Kia traveling northbound on North Hague Avenue, near El Paso Drive, drove through a road closed barrier before hitting a pile of gravel, causing the vehicle to go airborne. The vehicle then struck an excavator and ultimately came to rest perched on an excavator bucket and a sewer hole support wall.

“When first responders arrived at the scene, they observed the car sitting over a large hole that had been dug to install a sewer,” the sheriff's office said in a statement.

Responders from the Columbus Division of Fire arrived quickly and used specialized equipment to extricate the driver, who was alone in the vehicle. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at 5:25 a.m.

No other injuries were reported, and there were no additional occupants in the car at the time of the crash.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Authorities have not released the identity of the victim, and it is unclear whether speed, impairment, or distraction played a role.

The construction site where the crash occurred had been active due to ongoing sewer infrastructure work, part of a broader effort to upgrade utility systems in the area.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigation Unit is asking anyone with information about the crash to contact them at 614-525-6113.

Originally reported by 10 TV.