40 year-old Wesley Pearson of Grovetown was killed Friday when the pickup he was driving left the highway and struck the base of a billboard.

Pearson was travelling south on U.S. Highway 25 a little after 1 p.m. when he left the road in front of the Wagon Barn Market near Four Points Road.

The Georgia State Patrol said the vehicle continued approximately 1/4 mile down the west shoulder of the road, crossing over several driveways into a planted field before striking the base of the billboard. Pearson died while being transported to the hospital. Burke County Coroner Susan Salemi said it was likely the driver suffered a heart attack prior to the crash.