A car sits on its side following an accident on South Street early Monday morning. PHOTO/HOPKINTON FIRE DEPARTMENT

A vehicle speeding along South Street crashed into a tree and rolled onto its side early Monday morning, according to Hopkinton Police.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:37 a.m. According to information from the HPD, Officer Nicholas Saletnik was parked in the area of 80 South Street, checking vehicles with radar. When the car passed by at a “high rate of speed,” Saletnik pulled his cruiser onto the road and activated his emergency blue lights in order to initiate a traffic stop.

Saletnik lost sight of the vehicle as it went around a curve in the roadway, but as he continued he could see that the car had failed to navigate the turn and crashed on the side of the road in front of 86 South Street. It was determined that the driver lost control due to the speed and the wet roadway. When the driver overcorrected to keep from spinning out, the vehicle left the right side of the roadway, traveled into a ditch and struck a tree, ending up on its side.

Saletnik radioed dispatch to send the Fire Department and an ambulance to the scene. The driver was trapped inside the car and was extricated with Saletnik’s assistance and moved to safety. The driver was treated at the scene by Fire Department personnel.

With heavy rain over the past few weeks and more rain in the forecast, police cautioned drivers to drive safely and slow down when roads are wet.