Ice to blame as driver dies when car crashes into tree along road near Philly airport

A driver died as his car crashed off an icy road near Philadelphia International Airport and into a tree Wednesday morning.

Léelo en español aquí.

The 5:45 a.m. one-car wreck left the southbound side of Bartram Avenue between Essington and Holstein avenues in Southwest Philadelphia closed. A silver 2004 Toyota could be seen crashed against a tree.

Philadelphia police accident investigators said a 51-year-old man died at the scene.

Police later revealed that it appeared the driver lost control of his car when it slid "on an ice patch on the road."

Fire trucks and police cars could be seen blocking southbound Bartram Avenue following the crash.

NBC10 First Alert Traffic reporter Matt DeLucia suggested using Island Avenue, Enterprise Avenue or Lindbergh Boulevard to get around the crash scene.

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