The California Highway Patrol said the Friday morning death of a Turlock Journal carrier delivering newspapers on Linwood Avenue was likely attributed to medical problems.

Driver James Biehl, 59, of Turlock, was pronounced dead at the scene.

At 8 a.m. a resident on the rural road just east of Central Avenue saw Biehl’s red Prius high-centered on a small berm at the edge of a farm not far from the north side of the road. Beneath the car was a fallen utility pole that looked as though it had been stored there for a while. The Prius appeared to be headed eastbound when the car went off the road, possibly as he sustained a heart attack. The car had no body damage. When the Prius was still there about an hour and a half later with an unresponsive man in the front seat, 911 was called. Emergency personnel arrived and gave Biehl cardio pulmonary resuscitation but he was pronounced dead at the scene after 10 a.m., said CHP Public Information Officer Eric Parson.

“We believe there may have been some type of medical emergency,” said Parson. He said anyone who may have information about Biehl’s last minutes is urged to call the CHP at 545-7440.

Actual cause of death will not be determined until the results are in from an autopsy.

Biehl was an independent contractor who delivered both the Turlock Journal and Modesto Bee.