HARKER HEIGHTS (July 30, 2012)—A man who died when his truck crashed into a tree as he attempted to elude Harker Heights Police early Saturday morning was identified Monday as Fort Hood Sgt. Timothy Stephens, 28, of McMinnville, Ore.

Stephens died after a chase that started just after 2 a.m. Saturday when Harker Heights Police attempted to pull over a speeding and swerving truck in the 300 block of Indian Trail Drive.

At first the driver appeared to be stopping, but then the truck sped up and headed onto Clore Road, police said.

As the driver attempted to escape, the truck jumped a curb and hit at least one mailbox and then headed to Amy Lane, turning onto East Robin, police said.

Once on East Robin police say the truck left the roadway and hit a tree.

The impact caused a fire that was quickly extinguished, police said.

Stephens,who was not wearing a seat belt, died of injuries sustained during the impact of the crash, police said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Stephens deployed to Iraq from October 2006 to December 2007, December 2008 to November 2009 and from February 2011 to November 2011, Fort Hood said Monday.

He had been assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Calvary Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team since October 2005.