A driver was killed after slamming a car into a traffic light pole early this morning. The car later caught on fire.

The name of the victim has not been released pending notification of family members.

The driver was going east on Colfax Avenue at 1:35 a.m. when the Subaru the driver was in struck a traffic light pole at North Xanadu Street.

A bystander pulled the unconscious victim from the car, which had filled with heavy smoke, said Lt. Chuck DeShazer, Aurora police spokesman.

Shortly after police officers arrived, the car burst into flames.

The officers moved the driver further from the wreckage and tried to resuscitate the victim, who was not breathing, DeShazer said.

Aurora firefighters put out the car fire, he said.

The driver was rushed to a local hospital where the accident victim was pronounced dead. Aurora Fire extinguished the flames. There were no other persons in the car.

The driver may have fallen asleep or suffered a medical problem that allowed the car to drift to the right side of the road.

Investigators could not find any tire marks on the road, indicating the driver did not attempt to brake before the accident, DeShazer said.

Investigators believe the driver was not using a seat belt and had consumed alcohol before the accident, he said.

An autopsy and toxicology tests will be conducted in the coming week.

Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or twitter.com/kmitchellDP or blogs.denverpost.com/coldcases