Driver, 60, dies after crashing into curb, tree near San Jose school

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A man whom police said was speeding in San Jose crashed his Mercedes into a tree and died early Thursday morning, police and firefighters said. 

The crash took place near Price Middle School about 1:30 a.m. at the intersection of Curtner and New Jersey avenues. 

Investigators said the 60-year-old man was driving westbound on Curtner Avenue at an estimated speed of about 80 miles per hour on a street that has a limit of 35.

He lost control just before New Jersey Avenue, hit two curbs and crashed driver’s side into a tree, police said.

Officers said the man wasn’t being chased by another motorist, and no other vehicles were involved.

“They’re still gathering witnesses,” San Jose Fire Department Battalion Chief Darren Wallace said. “We don’t know exactly what happened, other than it was a single vehicle into a tree.”

It took firefighters five minutes to cut the man out of his Mercedes MDX SUV.

He had no pulse, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police investigators are checking to see if alcohol or drugs were factors. The Santa Clara County coroner will determine the official cause of death, and release the man’s identity once next of kin are notified.