(KAIR)--Concerns for a Nortonville man, who never arrived home after leaving Effingham late Wednesday night, lead to the discovery of his pickup truck, overturned and burning in an Atchison County creek, early Thursday morning.

38-year-old Joshua Pace suffered serious injuries in the wreck and was flown by helicopter for treatment at the University of Kansas Hospital, in Kansas City, Kansas.

Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie, in a release, says deputies attempting to locate Pace's truck found it around 1:00 Thursday morning, upside down, and engulfed in flames, in a creek, located on Edwards Road, between 246th and 254th Roads.

Deputies found Pace in the water, near the front of the truck, suffering from his injuries, and had no choice, Laurie said, but to move him away from the burning vehicle until medical rescue crews could arrive.

According to Laurie, it's believed the wreck happened around 11:46 Wednesday night, just minutes after Pace reportedly left Effingham, as the pickup was southbound on Edwards Road.

Assisting at the scene of the crash was Effingham Fire, Atchison County Rescue, and Atchison County EMS.