Investigators assigned to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Major Crash Investigations Unit are investigating a fatal traffic crash, which occurred on Monday, May 25, 2009.

At approximately 3:20 am, the driver of a 1999 Ford Explorer was traveling northbound in the 1700 block of Connecticut Avenue NW, when he struck an electrical pole and a tree.

Personnel from the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department extricated the driver who was trapped inside the vehicle. However, they found no signs consistent with life.

The driver who has been identified as 27-year-old Jermaine Lamar Turner of the 3200 block of Curtis Drive in Temple Hills, Md. was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia where he was pronounced dead shortly after 8 am.  It appears that Mr.Turner was not wearing a safety belt.

The passenger of the vehicle was transported to a local hospital and admitted.

The preliminary investigation has revealed that speed was a major factor in this crash.