STOCKTON  (AP) — Authorities say a car speeding away from Stockton police crashed into a utility pole, killing the driver and critically injuring the passenger.

The crash occurred in a residential area after midnight on Sunday. The 53-year-old driver's name was not immediately released.

Stockton police spokesman Joe Silva says police had tried to stop the speeding sedan, but gave up their pursuit for safety reasons after the driver pulled off an interstate.

The car eventually lost control, veering off a grassy shoulder and slamming into the utility pole.

The injured passenger was flown to a hospital. Silva says authorities are investigating what prompted the driver to flee from police.