A Marriottsville man was killed Thursday night after his car swerved off the road and struck a utility pole in the West Friendship section of Howard County, police said.

The driver, Kenneth John Dunsmore, 26, of the 12000 block of Old Frederick Road, lost control of his car at about 7:50 p.m. as he was traveling east on Frederick Road near Fairgrounds Road, police said.

The car, a 2001 Mercedes S430, veered off the right side of the road, striking a pole and brick pillar, police said.

Dunsmore was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said that he was not wearing a seatbelt and that alcohol was a factor in the crash.