The Knoxville Police Department is investigating after a man crashed into the Tennessee River and died early Friday morning.

At around 5:40 a.m. on Friday, June 19, KPD officers responded to the 500 block of Neyland Drive next to Calhoun’s on the River, where a Nissan truck had crashed through the sidewalk barriers and into the Tennessee River.

University of Tennessee Police Department officers and Knoxville Fire Department personnel arrived prior to KPD officers and were able to free the driver and only occupant from the truck, identified as 89-year-old Burrell Harris. On-scene responders attempted life-saving measures. However, Harris was pronounced dead at the scene.

Based on the preliminary investigation, which is being led by KPD crash reconstruction investigators, it is believed that Harris was in the Calhoun’s parking lot when he unintentionally and quickly reversed through the barrier and into the water.

The totality of the circumstances surrounding and leading to the crash still remain under active investigation.