CORYDON, Ind. (WAVE) -- The Harrison County Sheriff's Office says a man was killed Thursday when the tree he was cutting fell on him.

It happened just before 1 p.m. on Buck Ridge Road, near Corydon, Indiana. Officer Marty McClanahan with the Harrison County Sheriff's Office has identified the victim as 57-year-old Arthur Barks Jr.

McClanahan says the Ash Tree Barks was cutting "popped" and "kicked back on him," splitting in two. Barks tried to run but the tree came crashing down on him.

Barks operated a company hired to take backfill dirt off the property that was were cutting trees to make way for a road to get trucks back to the property.

McClanahan called it a "freak" accident.