A 30-year-old man died Sunday when the car he was driving struck a tree on Steel Creek Road in southwest Charlotte.
Police identified the driver as Dennis Okavis Bufford.
According to CMPD incident report, the crash happened at 3:30 a.m. near the intersection of Hamilton Place Drive near the state border with South Carolina. Bufford was driving a 1997 Buick Lesabre northbound on Steele Creek Road when he entered a curve, lost control of the vehicle, and drove off the right side of the road. He overcorrected back to the left, across the double-yellow line and struck a tree.
Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
Police said excessive speed was a factor in the crash. Investigators also said Bufford was wearing a seatbelt improperly.
