South Royalton – Police are looking for the driver of a car that slammed into a guardrail Friday night, killing a 38-year-old Royalton man who was a passenger in the car.

Royalton Police and Vermont State Police responding to reports of a car crash around 9:30 p.m. Friday on Back River Road in South Royalton found a 2002 Toyota Corolla had collided with a guardrail and was totaled, according to a news release from Royalton police Officer John Breault.

James R. Arbuckle, a passenger in the front seat of the car, was killed by “injuries sustained in the crash” and was dead when police arrived at the scene, according to the news release.

The driver of the vehicle left the scene before police arrived, and speed and alcohol “appear to be factors in the crash,” the release said.

Back River Road was closed until about 2:15 a.m. Saturday as the crash was investigated.

Anyone with information about the accident was asked to call 802-234-9933.

Posted at 12:20 p.m. Saturday.