A man who died Sunday when he crashed off a St. Paul road and his car started on fire has been identified as a 22-year-old.

Police said “excessive speed” was believed to be a contributing factor in the crash north of the Sun Ray Shopping Center in St. Paul.

Robert A. Jones Jr., of St. Paul, was the only person in the Nissan Maxima that struck a tree and light pole before starting on fire at Wilson Avenue and Howard Street about 9 p.m. Sunday, according to police.

There were fireworks in the car, which began to explode “and made it difficult for anyone to help the driver,” Sgt. Mike Ernster said previously.

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