James Patrick Darcy Jr., killed, Nathan Dunn, John David Kinlein, injured, after a confrontation leads to one victim being struck by a car, a police pursuit, and a single-vehicle crash into a tree, on Old Mill Button Road South in Laurel.

Police are investigating a fatal accident that occurred Saturday morning.

According to police, a Mitsubishi Lancer stopped to help a disabled vehicle around 4:00 a.m. For some reason, a confrontation ensued between the occupants of the Lancer and Nathan Dunn, one of the people in the disabled vehicle.

Dunn reportedly hit or kicked the Mitsubishi on its passenger side.

The driver of the Lancer, John David Kinlein, backed up the Mitsubishi and struck Dunn. Dunn grabbed the spoiler and was then dragged for a short distance before falling.

A police officer pulled up and saw Dunn being struck by the car. As a result, he pursued the Mitsubishi, which fled the scene.

The officer was in pursuit for about a mile when Kinlein failed to negotiate a right-hand turn in the area of Old Mill Button Road South. The car struck a tree.

The rear seat passenger, James Patrick Darcy Jr., sustained extensive head injuries and was pronounced dead at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

Excessive speed and alcohol are factors in the crash, police say.