COLUMBUS — A Nashville man was pulled to safety after his truck hit a slippery spot of County Road 325W, veered off the road and struck a tree, dropped down a 10-foot embankment and crash-landed along the banks of the Driftwood River.

Gary Pugh, 66, the driver and lone occupant of a Nissan Frontier truck, was treated for slight hypothermia after being exposed to the cold river, Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers said. Pugh had no other injuries, the sheriff said.

The accident was reported at 11:55 a.m. Wednesday in the vicinity of 3745 N Road 325W, which is just south of Lowell Road, west of Interstate 65 and just outside the western Columbus city limits.

This area is along the Driftwood River, where the vehicle was discovered upside down, according to first responders. Pugh was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment, authorities said.

Columbus police officer Greg Ross was the first on the scene and pulled Pugh from his vehicle, which was inverted and partially broke through the ice, said Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department.

Pugh’s vehicle, as it veered toward the water, was cushioned by tree branches, officers said. Rescuers used ropes to reach and pull the victim to dry ground, they said.

This story will be updated Thursday.