A fatal traffic accident at 7:56 p.m. Friday forced the closure of a section of Monsarrat Avenue in the area of the bandstand at Kapiolani Park, where the driver of a car slammed into a light pole, then hit two trees.

A 35-year-old male driver in a silver Toyota Corolla was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed going in the wrong direction on Monsarrat. The impact from the crash sheered off the light pole at its base, sending the pole 50 feet into an unoccupied, parked city bus, according to Lt. Phillip Buchanan of the Waikiki Patrol District.

The car was left mangled and wrapped around the tree. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

The police Vehicular Homicide Section has been called to the scene to investigate.

Monsarrat Avenue was closed between the Kalakaua Avenue and Paki Avenue during the investigation. It was reopened at around midnight Saturday.