ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. -- A 28-year-old man who was making a career out of working in the great outdoors was killed while on the job Saturday.

State park Ranger Nathan Howell died when a tree crushed the cab of his pickup truck while patrolling Paynes Prairie State Preserve, just south of Gainesville.

The accident happened just after 2 p.m. The Florida Highway Patrol said Howell's Ford Ranger was stopped on Puggy Road behind downed tree. As Howell sat in the vehicle waiting for a storm to pass, another tree fell on the pickup, causing the roof to collapse.

"We’re not sure exactly what happened, but we're speculating that maybe a smaller tree had fallen across the road, and as Nathan approached the tree, he stopped to navigate that tree and a second, larger tree broke off and fell on top of the truck," said Park Manager David Jowers.

He said a visitor found Howell in his truck. Howell was pronounced dead at the scene.

Howell was an Ohio native and a ranger for eight months. He lived on the park premises with his wife, Angela.

"He was a very energetic, very motivated and very bright individual. We were very pleased to have Nathan as part of our team … he's a quality individual with a great deal to offer. That's what makes this such a tragic loss," Jowers said.

George Edwards, president of the Friends of Paynes Prairie support organization, told the Gainesville Sun that he was saddened by Howell's death.

"I'm just devastated that one of our people -- a young man -- lost his life," Edwards said. "He was a good young man and an accident like that -- it’s like a lightning bolt out of the sky."

Officials said this is the first fatal accident at the state park.