WEST GREENWICH — An 18-year-old woman was killed instantly last night when her car slammed into a tree on a rural section of Hopkins Hill Road.

The police said Paige Robberson, of 326 Henry Brown Rd., lost control of her Honda Accord around 7 p.m., veering off near 572 Hopkins Hill Rd. As her car crashed into the tree, it flipped on its side, causing the roof to collapse.

The young driver was pinned inside.

According to Journal archives, Robberson graduated from Exeter-West Greenwich High School last month.

She was traveling alone at the time of the crash.

The police say speed may have been a factor, though they are still investigating the cause of the accident, according to Officer Keith Laliberte. Alcohol and drugs are not believed to have been involved.

Laliberte said no other cars were struck and no one witnessed the accident, making it difficult for the police to piece together what happened on an otherwise uneventful summer evening.

“I believe, due to my experiences, that speed was a factor,” Laliberte said late last night.

The police say they will be back at the scene of the crash this morning.