Groton ― A 69-year Groton man died on Monday when his dump truck struck a tree on Fort Hill Road, police said.

James Turner of 11 Norfolk Court was driving the dump truck that struck a tree on the south side of Fort Hill Road, just east of Vergennes Court at 10:55 a.m.

Police said that when officers arrived at the crash, they found Turner unconscious in the driver’s seat of the truck. First responders provided medical aid and transported Turner to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London where he was pronounced deceased.

Turner’s passenger, 70-year-old Reginald Haggan of Groton, was trapped in the truck. He had to be removed by firefighters who used a hydraulic cutting tool commonly known as the Jaws of Life. Haggan was suffering from a serious head injury and transported to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital. He subsequently was flown by Life Star Helicopter to Hartford Hospital for further treatment, police said.

Groton Town Police said their initial investigation showed the dump truck was traveling west on Fort Hill Road, just west of Central Avenue, when it veered sharply to the left and accelerated speed as it crossed the east bound lane of traffic. The truck then drove off the road and struck a large tree.

Members of the Southeastern Connecticut Regional Traffic Unit are assisting the investigation. The team, which performs accident reconstructions, includes officers from the Groton Town, Groton City, Stonington and Ledyard police departments.

In addition to Groton Town police, the emergency response to the crash included the Poquonnock Bridge Fire Department, Mystic River Ambulance, Groton Ambulance and L + M Hospital paramedics.

This cause of the accident remains under investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has other information related to the crash is asked to call Groton Town Police Police at 860-441-6712.