A St. George man who told police that he lost consciousness after doing some interior painting crashed his car on Route 131 in South Thomaston on Thursday afternoon.

Knox County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Timothy Carroll said Richard Rydell, 62, was driving south on Route 131 when he lost consciousness around 2:30 p.m. and crossed into the northbound lane.

Police said Rydell’s 2009 Toyota Scion went off the road, hit an embankment, and then a parked car. Rydell told police that he had been painting, a factor he said may have contributed to his losing consciousness.

Rydell, who was not wearing a seat belt, suffered head, neck and leg injuries. He was flown a hospital by LifeFlight helicopter. The severity of his injuries was not known Thursday night.