NATCHEZ — A Brookhaven man died after his car hit a light pole in the median on Seargent S. Prentiss Drive in front of Merit Health Natchez just after midnight Friday, authorities said.

Adams County Coroner James Lee said he pronounced Lanny Dwayne Case, 49, of Brookhaven dead at 1:30 a.m. Friday.

The cause of death was blunt force trauma from the impact of the crash, Lee said.

“He appeared to be driving at a high rate of speed,” said Natchez Police Chief Walter Armstrong. “He did hit a pole, and it was a one-vehicle accident.”

Lee said preliminary findings show that Case could have fallen asleep at the wheel.

“I’m so very sorry for this man …” Lee said. “My heart goes out to his family.”