EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. — A Lawson, Missouri man has serious injuries in a crash early Tuesday morning after striking a horse that was in the roadway in Clay County.

The crash was reported just before 4:30 a.m. on northbound U.S. 69 Highway near Robyn Lane, just north of Excelsior Springs, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The highway patrol reports the driver of a 2002 Acura was traveling north when he struck a horse that was in the roadway, then went off the side of the road and overturned.

The 56-year-old driver was taken by LifeFlight to Truman Medical and is reported to have serious injuries.

MSHP confirms with FOX4 the horse was killed in the crash.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Excelsior Police Department assisted MSHP following the crash.