1 dead in crash near St. Charles

A man died this afternoon when the truck he was driving struck a tree north of St. Charles, police said.

The crash took place about 2:15 p.m. on Route 31, just south of Crane Road near the Ferson Creek Fen.

Police said the victim was driving south in a red work truck when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle veered off the west side of the road, climbed a snow-covered embankment and hit a tree.

The victim, who has not been identified, was the lone occupant, police said. No one else was hurt.

Route 31 is closed to traffic in the area of the accident while police investigate.