DECATUR - Rahul D. Kavuri, 23, of Decatur died Tuesday morning in Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, from injuries suffered in a one-car accident hours earlier on South Main Street just north of the bridges over Lake Decatur.

Kavuri was a son of Dr. Choudary Kavuri, a well-known Decatur psychiatrist, and a recent graduate of Millikin University. He had planned to attend graduate school at the University of Illinois at Springfield for the fall semester.

The accident remained under investigation Tuesday, said Lt. David Dickerson of the Decatur Police Department.

Initial investigation indicated Kavuri was the sole occupant of his 1999 Lexus as it was southbound on Main Street at a speed estimated at between 60 mph and 70 mph, Dickerson said. Police are looking into the possibility that alcohol consumption played a role in the accident, he said.

Kavuri lost control of the vehicle, which skidded sideways and struck a large pole holding a state highway sign at 1:22 a.m., Dickerson said. The point of impact on the car was the passenger side door, he said.

Firefighters had to extricate Kavuri from the vehicle, and he was taken to St. Mary's Hospital before being transferred to Carle hospital.

Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup said Kavuri was pronounced dead in the Carle hospital emergency room at 5:40 a.m. He said an inquest into the death would be scheduled.

Ron Ingram can be reached at ringram@;herald-review.com or 421-7973.