Updated: Single-Car Crash in Trabuco Canyon Kills Rancho Santa Margarita Man

Updated with more details about the crash, quotes from the CHP spokesman and coroner, and additional photos.

A Rancho Santa Margarita man was killed Sunday evening in a single-car accident in Trabuco Canyon.

John Cummings, 66, apparently died on impact when his vehicle struck a tree on Trabuco Canyon Road just before 7 p.m., officials said.

Cummings was not wearing a seat belt when his 2001 Saturn SL2 crashed into an oak tree on the side of Trabuco Canyon Road. 

He was traveling south when the accident occurred next to the Trabuco Canyon Fire Station.

"It appears a high rate of speed was not a factor in this collision," said Chris Goodwin, spokesman for the California Highway Patrol.

According to Goodwin, the vehicle veered off the side of the road, hit the tree and deflected back into traffic lanes facing west. A SigAlert closed off traffic for about three hours while the CHP conducted an investigation.

"That's why it’s so important to wear seat belts," Goodwin said. "Low-impact speeds can still result in injury and death. In this case, we don’t know the cause of death yet."

Early Tuesday morning, the Orange County coroner said additional testing would be necessary to determine the cause of death.

"It has been pended for additional testing and investigations," said Kelly Keyes, coroner watch commander. "The mode and manner of death are inconclusive at this point."