ELYRIA – A Lorain man died early Saturday morning following an accident in which his truck went off the road, struck a tree and burst into flames.

Marc A. Youngless, 41, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after
1 a.m. by Lorain County Deputy Coroner Eric Lockhart, who said the man died of asphyxiation from smoke inhalation. Lockhart said the man also suffered significant burns in the crash.

The Elyria post of the Ohio Highway Patrol said Youngless was southbound in a black 1991 GMC pickup on Baumhart Road about two-tenths of a mile south of Cooper Foster Park Road about 12:45 a.m. when he veered off the right side of the road.

The truck struck a ditch and culvert before traveling on into a yard where it struck a tree. The pickup burst into flames following the impact, the patrol said.

Youngless was alone in his vehicle.

Vermilion Fire Department firefighters responded to the scene, where they extinguished the fire in short order, according to Lockhart. “The vehicle was immediately in flames.”

Lockhart said he performed toxicology tests at the scene but results would not be available for a few days.

Authorities listed an address on Broadway in Lorain for Youngless that corresponded to a small mobile home park near Clearview High School.

However, Lockhart said Youngless was apparently living with his father, Robert Youngless, in the Amherst area at the time of the accident.

“I questioned why he was on Baumhart Road at that time if he resided on Broadway, and his father said he was probably coming back to stay with him,” Lockhart said. “That would be on the way to his father’s address.”

Marc Youngless was divorced and had a daughter, according to Lockhart.

“His dad said he was unemployed but was seeking work,” Lockhart said. “In fact, he said his son had had a job interview earlier that same day (Friday).”

The man’s father said Youngless was an electrician by trade, according to Lockhart.

Contact Steve Fogarty at 329-7146 or sfogarty@chroniclet.com.