YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — An airman stationed at Misawa Air Base in northern Japan died as the result of a single-vehicle crash late Saturday in Hachinohe City.

Airman First Class Alexander Markward, with the 35th Maintenance Squadron, was a passenger in the vehicle when it crashed about 11 p.m., according to a statement from the base. He was taken to Hachinohe Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, the statement said.

Local newspaper Too Nippo reported that the car was being driven by a 20-year-old airman who sustained only minor injuries.

The vehicle crashed through a guardrail and fell about 13 feet into bushes, Too Nippo reported.

Hachinohe police told the newspaper they believed the vehicle was traveling at high speed because it flattened almost 30 yards of guardrail before flipping off the road.

The base’s statement said alcohol was not involved in the crash.

The incident is under investigation.

news@stripes.com

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