SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The driver of a vehicle being chased by authorities early Tuesday morning was killed and his passenger injured when the car slammed into a tree, Spartanburg County deputies said.

The crash happened near the intersection of Holly Springs Road and Plumley Court at about 2 a.m.

Tony Ivey, public information officer for the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office, said that a deputy noticed a green car at a gas station in Lyman that was connected to a string of convenience store thefts in the past week. He said that when the deputy tried to stop the car at the intersection of Holly Springs Road and Highway 357, the driver sped away.

According to an incident report, speeds reached up to about 80 mph before the driver lost control of the pursued vehicle. The report said that the vehicle went off the right side of the road and hit a tree. The report said that the pursuing deputy was about 70 yards behind the vehicle when it crashed.

The driver, who was identified as 28-year-old Christopher Lowery, 28, of Wellford, was pronounced dead at the scene, the Spartanburg County Coroner's Office said.

The passenger was taken to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center and treated for his injuries.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol and the coroner's office are investigating the crash.