CLINTON -- A 30-year-old Canaan man died Thursday after the car he was in struck a tree on Route 23 in Clinton.

Clinton police Sgt. Craig Johnson said it was unclear who was driving the 1999 Pontiac that went out of control before 3 p.m., killing Paul Elliott, 30, of Canaan, and seriously injuring William Rigdon, 22, of Glen St. Mary, Fla.

Johnson said the car was traveling west "at a high rate of speed," went out of control and across a front lawn, landing about 30 feet away from the road in some thick woods.

Ellliott was thrown from the vehicle and killed instantly, Johnson said. Rigdon was "conscious but not very coherent" after the crash, Johnson said.

A witness reported that Rigdon had crawled out of the car, the sergeant said. He said Rigdon was stabilized and taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center, Thayer Unit. A report on Rigdon's condition was not immediately available.