Man killed when car hits tree near Oakdale

A 44-year-old Modesto man died early Sunday when his car hit a tree south of Oakdale, the California Highway Patrol reported.

According to the CHP, the man, whose name was not released pending notification of his family, was driving a 2014 Dodge south on Albers Road north of Patterson when the accident occurred. It was reported at 4:50 a.m.

The car went off the road onto a dirt and gravel shoulder, and kept going until it hit a tree.

The driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, sustained fatal injuries and was declared dead at the scene.

Investigators are still looking into the cause of the accident; it was not yet clear whether drugs or alcohol was a factor.

This story was originally published November 9, 2014 at 11:23 AM with the headline "Man killed when car hits tree near Oakdale."