COLUMBUS, Neb. -- One person was hospitalized after a Thursday morning incident just south of Columbus.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office said it received a report of a suspicious vehicle running in a parking lot just off Highway 81 south of the Platte River at approximately 6:45 a.m.

Sherrif Dwaine Ladwig responded to the scene and located the vehicle in the parking lot near Heartland Products.

According to Ladwig, he attempted to contact the driver, but the driver did not respond. Ladwig then reportedly observed a gun sitting on the driver's lap, at which point he called for additional units.

The Columbus Police Department, Platte County Sheriff's Office, Butler County Sheriff's Office, Columbus Fire Department and the Nebraska State Patrol responded to the scene to provide assistance.

After multiple attempts to contact the driver, officers approached the vehicle and removed the gun. According to Ladwig, the driver was found having suffered what was believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The driver was immediately taken to Columbus Community Hospital and has since been life-flighted to Bryan Medical Center West Campus in Lincoln.

According to Ladwig, the man has life-threatening injuries.

Employees at Heartland Products did not provide comment.