CHEROKEE — A Florence man was killed early Thursday when the car he was driving left the roadway just north of Cherokee and flipped several times, state troopers said.

Troopers identified the man as Christopher Shane Poe, 27, of 122 Jackson Ave., Florence. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Colbert County Coroner Carlton Utley.

Utley said Poe died from head trauma.

The crash scene is on North Pike near the Natchez Trace Parkway, authorities said. Troopers said the accident happened about 6 a.m.

Emergency personnel at the scene said it appears Poe turned off Natchez Trace Parkway onto North Pike. They said he traveled a short distance before his 2000 GMC Envoy went off the west side of North Pike, crossed back across the roadway and flipped several times. Authorities said Poe was ejected from the vehicle.

Poe and the vehicle landed off the east side of the roadway, officials at the scene said.

Troopers said it does not appear that weather was a factor in the accident.

Poe was a 2003 graduate of Central High School in Lauderdale County, according to principal Ryan Harrison.

Harrison said he knew Poe while he was a student there.

"I've only heard good things about him," Harrison said. "I understand he has three small children, and it just breaks my heart. It's just a tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family."

The fatality is the second in the northwest Alabama region and the southern Tennessee counties of Wayne and Lawrence this year.

It is the 18th traffic fatality in Alabama this year, compared to 28 at the same time in 2012.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.