A 66-year-old man who police said was driving to the hospital because of chest pains died early Saturday when his car slammed into a tree just north of Charlotte’s uptown.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Birdsall Robert Smith died from injuries suffered in the wreck, which happened shortly before 4:30 a.m. in the 100 block of Parkwood Avenue, off North Davidson Street.

Police said Smith was working overnight when he started complaining about chest pains. He decided to drive himself to the hospital, but his 1999 Plymouth Neon went off the right side of Parkwood Avenue and hit a tree.

Paramedics took him to Presbyterian Hospital, where he died about 45 minutes later. Police said the Medical Examiner’s Office will rule on the cause of death.

Police ask that any witnesses to the wreck contact Detective Kevin Allred at 704-336-8862.