Man killed when car crashes into tree

COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - Authorities say a Grand Junction man killed Thursday morning in a single-vehicle crash was not wearing his seat belt.

Emergency personnel found Timothy Thurston, 38, already dead when they arrived on the scene of the crash in the 46000 block of Baseline Road in Columbia Township around 7:15 a.m.

Thurston was headed west on Baseline Road when his 1996 Mazda 626 left the road and hit a tree, killing him instantly, according to the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office.

He was was not wearing his seat belt, the sheriff's office said.

Thurston had to be extricated from the vehicle.

Speed does appear to be a factor, but it's not yet known if alcohol was involved. Toxicology results are pending. The crash remains under investigation.

Correction: The initial version of this story stated the air bags of the vehicle did not deploy. That was inaccurate. The air bags did deploy properly. We regret the error.