DURHAM — Police have released the name of the 17-year-old driver who was killed in a traffic accident on Clayton Road early Saturday morning and say they think speed was a factor in the accident.

Ciara Malloy of Durham was pronounced dead at the scene in the 800 block of Clayton Road, near Southern High School, where she was a senior. Malloy was in the car by herself when she crashed into a wooded area.

While Southern High School was Malloy’s base school, she took most of her classes at Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School, which operates on the campus of N.C. Central University. At Josephine Dobbs, students can earn up to two years of college credit during their four years of high school.

Gloria Woods-Weeks, the principal of Josephine Dobbs, said Malloy stood out at the school, which has 370 students.

“She had high academics. She worked really hard. She was an integral part of the student body,” said Woods-Weeks. She said that Malloy was well-known at the school and was appointed a position in the Student Government Association this year.

“Her plan for college was to move back to her home state of Alabama and attend the University of Alabama,” said Woods-Weeks.

Since Josephine Dobbs is solely an academic school and does not have sports teams, many students participate in sports at their base school. For Malloy, that meant playing softball at Southern High School.

The crash occurred sometime between 1 and 2:30 a.m., said Durham police spokeswoman Kammie Michael. A passing driver saw the car in the woods around 4:45 a.m. and reported it.

Alcohol did not appear to be a factor, said Michael. There were no other vehicles involved in the crash.

The investigation is still underway.

Malloy’s funeral is scheduled for Thursday at 12 p.m. at First Calvary Baptist Church on Morehead Avenue.

James: 919-829-4870