Potter Township — POTTER TOWNSHIP — A Centre Hall man died Thursday afternoon after a car accident along Taylor Hill Road.

Howard Swank, 77, was riding in a gray 2001 Toyota Camry driven by his wife at 2:14 p.m. when it drifted off the right shoulder for unknown reasons about a mile from U.S. Route 322. It went down an embankment and tipped onto the passenger side in a ditch, police said.

The car then caught on fire before Boalsburg and Centre Hall fire companies extinguished the flames. 

The driver, Virginia Swank, 77, was pulled out of the car to safety. Police did not say whether bystanders or firefighters rescued her. 

Howard Swank could not be removed from the car, police said.

Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers pronounced Swank dead at the scene at 3:20 p.m. An autopsy is scheduled for today to determine the cause of death, Sayers said.

Virginia Swank was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center. She was admitted for observation, hospital Clinical Coordinator Rachel Griel said.

Chris Rosenblum can be reached at 231-4620. Follow him on Twitter @CRosenblumNews