PLOVER, Wis .(WSAU) – Portage County officials say a man is dead following a motorcycle crash early this morning.

Deputies were called out to Highway 54 neat Coolidge Avenue around 1:30 this morning for a report of a motorcycle on fire. When they arrived on the scene, they found a man in the ditch along with the fire.

Preliminary reports say the driver of the motorcycle left the roadway and struck a mailbox. The bike continued along the south ditch of the east lanes before coming to rest on the shoulder fully engulfed in fire. The man was ejected from the cycle and ended up in the ditch where he died of his injuries.

Patrol sergeant Jim Pozniak says this is an unusual case. “Out of all the accidents we handle on a daily basis, it's very unusual to see anything start on fire.” Pozniak says identification of the victim is complete, but that locating family members may take some time.

Officials are continuing to investigate the crash. Speed and alcohol were likely contributing factors.