CLEARFIELD TWP — A nighttime walk to the ice cream stand proved fatal for a 56-year-old man Saturday, state police said.

James F. Bureau had just left Lick-N-Putt Ice Cream & Golf and was walking back to his home about 7:40 p.m. when he was struck by a car.

He died at an Armstrong County hospital a short time later of head and other injuries in the crash some 500 yards from the Butler-Armstrong County line.

Bureau, who lives across the highway from the Lick-N-Putt, had gone for ice cream — a regular habit.

Order in hand, he headed back home, authorities said. He never made it.

Police said an eastbound 2006 Ford Taurus driven by Glenn E. Brennen III, 61, of Butler struck Bureau in the right hand lane of four-lane Route 422 near Park Lane.

"It was dark, and there's not a lot of lighting at the ice cream stand," said Armstrong County Coroner Bob Bower, who assisted police in the investigation.

Brennen apparently did not see the man until it was too late, police said. He applied his brakes but was unable to stop in time.

"The car left a lot of skid marks," Bower said.

Bureau was hit and thrown into the air. He landed face down on the road.

Brennen, who was not injured, stopped after the accident, police said.

Paramedics got there and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Bureau, who was taken to ACMH Hospital in Kittanning.

But he was pronounced dead at the hospital at 8:14 p.m. Bower said Bureau died of massive injuries to his head and entire body.

A Kittanning native, Bureau worked at the PPG Ford City Works in Armstrong County and at Concrete Coring Co. in Butler County.

He was a U.S. Army veteran and is survived by a daughter and granddaughter.