A Dowagiac man climbed out of his driver’s side window moments before the vehicle caught fire after a crash in Cass County.

The collision happened around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sep. 25, on Rudy Road, south of Gage Street in Wayne Township.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office investigation shows  the pickup, driven by the 25-year-old man,  was traveling south when the driver lost control of his vehicle and ran off the roadway and into a tree. After he got out, the vehicle erupted in flames.

Wayne Township Fire and Dowagiac Fire Departments were able extinguished the fire.

The driver was taken to Borgess Lee Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.

Police say the driver was wearing his seat belt. Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the crash.