A 77-year-old motorist died Monday morning when his pickup truck collided with an oncoming vehicle and struck a utility pole in Clay Township, investigators said.

The Lititz man, whose name wasn't released, was driving a Ford Ranger in the 2000 block of Route 322 about 9:50 a.m. when it collided with an Oldsmobile driven by 56-year-old Margaret Eckles, police said.

The impact forced the Ranger off the roadway and into a utility pole, according to investigators.

The man was extricated from his vehicle and flown to Reading Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Clay Township police said they didn't released the victim's name Monday because his family hadn't been notified.

Eckles, of the 1400 block of Briertown Road, Narvon, was treated at the scene for minor injuries, police said.

Police were investigating the cause of the crash Monday and didn't provide some details — including which direction the vehicles were traveling prior to impact.

They did say the Ranger was "struck by Margaret Eckles (who was) driving a 1991 Oldsmobile sedan." The Ranger's passenger side collided with the utility pole, investigators said. The impact nearly split the pickup truck in half.

Lincoln Fire Company Chief Adrian Borry said firefighters cut off the Ranger's driver's-side door to free the motorist.

Fire crews also cleaned a gas leak from the Ranger and stabilized electric wires hanging from the utility pole, Borry said. Firefighters extricated the man in minutes, and he was flown by helicopter to Reading, investigators said.

Route 322 was closed from Rock Road to Durlach Road while police reconstructed the crash scene, Borry said. The roadway reopened about 3 p.m.

Clay Township police are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact them at 733-0965.

E-mail: bhambright@lnpnews.com