A 22-year-old man died in a single vehicle accident on Route 198 in Mathews on Saturday. Michael James Diggs of Mathews was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash that occurred at 4:50 p.m. about two-tenths of a mile west of Hookemfair Road, according to state police Sgt. Greg Mathias.

Mathias said Diggs was driving a 2008 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck eastbound on Route 198 when he ran off the right side of the road. He said Diggs overcorrected and ran off the left side of the highway where the truck overturned and struck a utility pole.

Mathias said Diggs was not wearing a seat belt and it was not known if alcohol was a factor in the accident. The roadway was wet at the time of the crash, which was investigated by trooper S.T. Smith.

Diggs’ passenger, 20-year-old Jeremy Stephen Forrest of Mathews, was transported to Riverside Regional Medical Center for the treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Mathias said it is believed that Forrest was wearing a seat belt.

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