Traverse City Man Killed, Thrown From Truck After Crashing Into Trees

A 60-year-old Traverse City man is dead after deputies say he crashed his truck into trees in Ellis Township.

Robert Fluharty was driving north Thursday on Afton Road near Dunham Road, deputies said, when he didn’t turn at a curve, sending his truck off the road.

The Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Department said he hit several trees and was thrown from the vehicle. He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and died at the scene, deputies reported.

A passenger in the truck was wearing a seatbelt and suffered minor injuries.

Alcohol and speed are believed to be factors in the crash, police said. The investigation is ongoing.