One person is dead after a routine traffic stop took a deadly turn outside Lincoln City.

Oregon State Police

Police say the driver of this car crashed and died while trying to elude officers.

Oregon State Police said a Lincoln City Police officer tried to pull over a 1989 Mercury Cougar for a traffic violation along Highway 101 around 1:10 a.m. Saturday. Rather than pull over, the driver, later identified as Michael Geisler, 26, of North Bend, sped off.

The officer took off after the car. A few minutes later an OSP patrol car joined the pursuit.

The Mercury drove up Highway 101 all the way into Tillamook County then turned onto a windy side road. Officers said they lost sight of the car but eventually back-tracked and found it off the road, crashed into a tree.

Geisler was pronounced dead at the scene. Police did not say why the man took off in the first place.