EASLEY—A Greenville man is dead after flipping a stolen car during a high-speed police chase.

Easley Police were in pursuit of a 2004 Pontiac GTO when the chase came to a fatal conclusion on Rock Springs Road at about 1:35 p.m on Friday (Nov. 16).

Lance Cpl. Bill Rhyne with the South Carolina Highway Patrol said the driver was traveling north on Rock Springs when the Pontiac ran off the right side of the road and overturned.

The driver was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Easley Police say the chase began 20 minutes prior to the crash.

“At approximately 1:15 pm Easley Police responded to Powdersville Road and Mossie Smith Road to investigate an auto accident,” Mjr. Tim Tollison with the Easley Police said in a release. “Upon arriving on scene, one of the drivers of the vehicles involved fled the scene on foot towards Forest Park Subdivision.”

Police say it was then they saw the suspect flee.

“Officers observed a red Pontiac leaving Forest Park Subdivision with no license plate driven by a white male matching the description of the suspect that ran from the scene of the accident previously reported,” said Tollison. “An officer attempted to stop the red Pontiac on Powdersville Road, which was attempting to elude officers at a high rate of speed.”

Tollison said the vehicle actually overturned on top of the suspect.

“(The) suspect’s vehicle left (the) roadway near Patrick Avenue and flipped an unknown number of times, (ejecting) the suspect,” Tollision said. “Vehicle came to rest upside down on top of the suspect.”

The Pontiac involved in the crash had been stolen, and Pickens County deputies are investigating.

“The red Pontiac that the suspect was driving was reported stolen moments later from Forest Park Subdivision,” said Tollison. “(The) Pickens County Sheriffs Office is working this vehicle theft.”

As of Friday evening, the drivers name had not been released.

“(The) suspects name is being withheld until Pickens County Coroner makes proper notification,” said Tollison.