A 49-year-old woman is dead after a single-vehicle crash on Frederick Street in Kitchener. It happened around 2:30 Sunday morning, near Victoria Street.

“The vehicle lost control leaving the roadway hitting a tree, and then a residence,” explained Sgt Tim Lederman, with Waterloo Regional Police Services.

The crash woke neighbours in the residential neighbourhood.

“It was like a train or a small plane hit the building, that was the noise,” said Sherry Loree-Stroeder, who lives next door to the home that was hit.

“The driver was conscious,” Loree-Stroeder said.

“He just kept saying I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, and I’m assuming that he was talking to whoever was in the vehicle with him,” she continued.

The 41-year-old driver was taken to Grand River Hospital with minor injuries. The passenger was pronounced dead on the scene.

“I was surprised that anybody lived through it really, from the damage that was done to the vehicle,” said Loree-Stroeder.

“We believe from the investigation, and it’s still in its preliminary phases, that alcohol and speed were factors,” Sgt Lederman said.

The driver was arrested and charged with impaired operation of a vehicle causing death, and dangerous driving causing death. He was held in custody pending a bail hearing.

Police are not releasing the name of the victim.