A sheriff's deputy in Oconee County, South Carolina has died after being between a patrol car and a tree.

According to Oconee County Coroner Karl E. Addis, 26 year-old william Frederick Shuck III of Rabun Gap died Sunday morning of traumatic asphyxiation. 

Shuck was patrolling a private dirt road near Highway 11, north of Walhalla, when his patrol car became stuck. When the deputy exited his car to examine the front tires, the car apparently moved forward and pinned Shuck to the tree. Shuck's wife had spoken with him shortly after 1:30 a.m. and he informed her that his car was stuck. 

When supervisors could not reach him on the phone or radio, officers began searching for him. Shuck was discovered dead at 3 a.m.

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