State authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding a crash on Interstate 64 in James City County that killed one person Thursday night.
Virginia State Police said it happened in the eastbound lanes at mile marker 243 at around 6:32 p.m.
An initial investigation indicated the driver of a 2016 Nissan Versa was traveling at a high rate of speed in the left lane before running off the roadway and striking the guardrail, police said.
The driver lost control of the car after striking the guardrail, causing the vehicle to cross over all lanes of travel.
The car then ran off the roadway and struck a tree – where the car caught on fire.
The driver died upon impact, police said.
“Identification and notification of the fatal driver has not been made due to the vehicle being fully engulfed,” police said in a news release. “Positive identification of the driver will have to be made by the medical examiner’s office.”
Police said at some point during the crash, the Nissan lost a tire which traveled through the wood line and struck a 2012 Honda CRV that was traveling westbound on Route 143. The driver was not injured but the vehicle was damaged and had to be towed from the scene.