A five-year-old girl injured when a car crashed into a tree killing her 25-year-old father could have been in the vehicle "for some time" before she was discovered, the ambulance service said.
Emergency crews found the girl in the back of the black Ford Fiesta after two cyclists saw it in a ditch in Staffordshire on Sunday morning in foggy conditions, the Press Association reported.
The driver, who is from the local area, was confirmed dead at the scene on the B5030 at Crakemarsh, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire Police said.
A five-year-old girl found in a car that crashed at Crakemarsh, Staffordshire, killing her father could have been in the vehicle for some time before she was discovered because of the fog
A spokesman for the force added: "At this early stage of the investigation is it not known at what time the collision occurred."
The girl was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital with minor injuries after complaining of pain in her back and abdomen.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "On arrival, crews found a car that was in a ditch; it had suffered considerable damage. It appeared to have been there for some time. It was very foggy at the time.
"Unfortunately, it was immediately obvious that the man driving had passed away.
"This was an extremely difficult incident for all involved including the two cyclists who made the discovery."
Police have appealed for any witnesses who saw the car before the collision to contact them on 101.