An early morning solo vehicle crash in Oakdale on Saturday, April 27 claimed the life of a Waterford man.

The Stanislaus County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Daniel Steffens, 34, of Waterford. He was the driver of a 2012 Audi that crashed into a power pole along South Yosemite Avenue, just north of Wakefield Drive.

According to the California Highway Patrol report, their investigation indicated Steffens was traveling southbound on Yosemite Avenue in the number one lane, the slow lane. For unknown reasons, he allowed the Audi to veer to the left, entering the northbound lanes. The car continued in a southeasterly direction, onto the raised concrete curb and then crashed into the power pole.

The official call came in about 1:40 a.m.; the CHP was called to scene just after 2 a.m.

The first arriving emergency units located the Audi, the CHP said, and efforts were made to extricate the driver from the wreckage. He was pronounced deceased on the scene.

Steffens was wearing his seatbelt, according to the CHP report. It is unknown at this time if drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash.

“It was at the new Circle K, at South Yosemite and Wakefield,” said Oakdale Police Chief Jerry Ramar, with OPD also on scene along with local fire and ambulance personnel.

The crash was in city limits but Ramar said they asked for the CHP response to take over the investigation due to it being a fatality.