Valparaiso man killed when car hits tree

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Updated: February 6, 2012 8:53PM

A Valparaiso man was killed when his car left the road, slid down an embankment and hit a tree head-on Monday morning in Jackson Township. Barry Yarbrough, 41, was pronounced dead at the scene due to blunt force trauma, according to Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris.

Police responded around 9:54 a.m. to a crash at 280 E. U.S. 6. Yarbrough’s yellow 2004 Chevy pickup was headed east on U.S. 6 when it left the road and headed north for unknown reasons, eventually hitting a tree. Yarbrough was not wearing a seatbelt. Police believe speed was a factor. The coroner will conduct toxicology testing to see if alcohol or drugs were in his system.