A silver 2003 Jaguar rests against a power pole on Alabama 99 in West Limestone Saturday morning following an accident that claimed the life of an Athens High School student.

A 16-year-old Athens youth was killed Saturday morning on Alabama 99 about 10 miles north of Athens when the silver 2003 Jaguar he was driving left an area known by locals as Marbuts Curve and slammed into a power pole.

State troopers identified the victim as Miles Blackwell and said he was not wearing a seat belt.

Blackwell was a student at Athens High School where he ran track. He was the son of Derrick and Rosalyn Blackwell of Athens.

The accident happened around 10:13 a.m. according to troopers and resulted in a three-hour shutdown of Alabama 99. Emergency volunteers rerouted traffic back through Salem and Athens.

A person with a rescue unit that arrived on the scene shortly after the wreck said the impact was so severe it splintered the pole causing powers lines to dangle toward the ground. No other vehicles were involved.

Troopers said the accident remains under investigation.