A rural Bellwood man is dead following an ATV crash in Butler County.

Butler County Sheriff Mark Hecker said 73-year-old Robert Merrick was driving an ATV northbound on the west side of Brandenburg Lake in Butler County when he left the roadway and went down a small embankment before coming to rest against a tree.

The accident happened Friday just after 2:00.

Bellwood Fire and Rescue transported Robert to the Columbus Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

There were no passengers on the ATV and Merrick was not wearing a helmet.

The crash is under investigation by the Butler County Sheriff's Office.