A 21-year-old man died early this morning when he lost control of his pickup truck and struck a pole and tree in front of a western Shawnee elementary school.

Police identified the man as Damian Cody Hall of Shawnee.

Hall was headed home from work about 2:20 a.m. and was northbound in the 7300 block of Mize Road when he lost control of his white 2006 Ford pickup. He ran off the road in front of Mize Elementary and struck a pole and a tree, according to Shawnee police.

Hall was not wearing a seat belt, according to police.

Police are investigating whether speed might have been a factor in the crash based on the distance his vehicle traveled after leaving the road.

| Robert A. Cronkleton, bcronkleton@kcstar.com