A one-vehicle accident claimed the life of a Fayette man justafter midnight Monday, Highway Patrol officials said.

Highway Patrol Troop M Public Affairs Officer Sgt. Rusty Boydsaid Ben W. Counsel, 54, of Fayette, was killed when his vehicleleft the road and struck a tree in Jefferson County.

“He was traveling northbound on Highway 553 when he ran off theeast side of the roadway and centered a tree,” Boyd said.

Boyd said Counsel was driving his 2006 Saturn Vue when theaccident occurred just before 1 a.m. Monday. Counsel was notwearing his seat belt at the time of the impact.

Counsel’s reason for leaving the road is still underinvestigation, Boyd said.