HICKORY, N.C. — The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash in Catawba County early Thursday morning.
It happened just before 2 a.m. on N.C. 127 near N.C. 10.
Troopers said a 2001 Toyota Camry was traveling north on N.C. 127 when it drove off the right side of the road, overturned, and struck the guardrail.
The driver of the vehicle, 20-year-old Eli Emmanuel Brittain, was ejected from the vehicle.
He died at the scene and was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, according to troopers.
Troopers said an investigation into the incident indicates that excessive speed was a contributing factor in the collision.
No additional details have been made available.
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