UPDATED/Additional Information:

A Cherokee County resident was fatally injured early Thursday morning, after he lost control of his 2009 Jeep Cherokee – ran off the roadway, and struck two culverts – before overturning.   Afterwards the vehicle struck a fence and a utility pole.

According to Alabama State Trooper reports, that driver, Donald Eugene Barnes, age 35 of Leesburg – was not using a seat belt – and was declared dead at the scene.

The wreck took place around 5:00am, on County Road 53, near Cherokee County Road 361.

The accident remains under investigation.