By Elizabeth Miller

Auburn Police Department responded to a single vehicle collision at Academy Drive and Auburn Way South (SR 164) Friday morning. The accident occurred at approximately 4:50 am. When arriving on the scene, responding officers found the driver of the vehicle deceased. There were no other passengers in the vehicle.

The roadway around the accident was closed for approximately 4 hours for investigation and evidence collection. The preliminary accident investigation indicates the vehicle exited the roadway at a high rate of speed. Upon leaving the roadway, the vehicle struck a signal pole.

Toxicology lab reports, standard practice in fatality motor vehicle accidents, will be returned in four to six weeks. No further investigation results have been furnished at this time.

Though family and community members shared their grief online over the weekend, APD has not officially identified the driver.