U.S. Capitol Police are investigating a fatal crash that sent a car airborne and into a tree in southeast Washington Friday morning.
Police say the driver of the silver BMW SUV was speeding along northbound South Capitol Street SE about 3 a.m. when he crashed into a flower planter protecting the southeast vehicle entrance of the U.S. Capitol Police secure perimeter at D Street.
The car then went airborne, striking two trees before coming to rest vertically against one of the trees.
The driver, 19-year-old Hunter B. Harries of McLean, was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Debris from the trees, flower planter and car were scattered across the roadway. Capitol Police said there was no sign of a police chase near the scene.
Toxicology tests will determine whether Harries was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Harries was a student at Rollins College in Florida.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Vice President for Student Affairs Mamta Motwani Accapadi sent a message to the Rollins community saying, saying, "I am deeply saddened to share with you that we have recently learned that Hunter Harries, one of our students, was in a car accident and passed away. Our healing thoughts and prayers are with the Harries family and friends during this difficult time."
Police tow BMW from scene of violent accident steps from US Capitol pic.twitter.com/nAqsE5Y1yk — Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) March 7, 2014
#DC Firefighters responded to a vehicle into a tree this morning in SE pic.twitter.com/4EVKiM30jp http://t.co/p9EhNC9N8P via @ha_nah_nah — DC Fire Fighters L36 (@IAFF36) March 7, 2014
Ugly car crash near US Capitol RT @ha_nah_nah: Crash occurred at 3am. #southcapitol #capitolhill pic.twitter.com/zMbXQkTuDg — Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) March 7, 2014
