A 39-year-old Essex County man is dead after crashing into a ditch during a police chase on Manning Road.

Essex County OPP say it happened at the intersection of Manning Road and County Road 46 just north of Highway 401 around 12:25 a.m.

Ontario’s Special Investigation Unit is probing the incident.

"The investigation will consist of interviewing police witnesses, subject officers and any civilian witnesses who have information," says SIU spokesperson Monica Hudon.

Police say they attempted to stop the driver of a vehicle traveling northbound on Manning. When required to stop by police, the driver fled.

A short distance later, the vehicle ran off the road and hit a ditch. The lone occupant of the vehicle was ejected.

The man was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead.

"Post mortem results will be looked at and collision reconstruction reports will be analysed so there is still as lot of work to be done," says Hudon.

The intersection on Manning Road was closed for several hours while the scene was investigated.