A North Stonington man died Tuesday afternoon when his car flew off the road sideways and struck several trees along Route 2, just south of the intersection with Main Street, state police said this morning.

David Gumula, 35, of 29 Pond Dr., was driving his 2005 Nissan Sentra east on Route 2 at 1:37 p.m. Tuesday when he attempted to pass a 2001 Ford Escape, also traveling east, officials said. As Gumula passed the Ford, the right rear side of his car struck the front left side of the Ford and his car veered off the roadway, state police said.

Gumula, the sole occupant of his car, was pronounced dead at the scene. It is not known if he was wearing a seatbelt, according to the state police accident summary. The driver and passenger of the Ford were not injured, state police said.

Route 2 in North Stonington was closed for several hours Tuesday as first responders tried to free Gumula and state police troopers investigated the crash.

The crash remains under state police investigation.