HOLLYWOOD - A Hollywood police officer driving a patrol car was killed in a fiery wreck Saturday night, Police Chief Chadwick E. Wagner confirmed.

The officer's name was not released, pending notification of family.

The crash happened in the 7000 block of Sheridan Street just before 9 p.m. The patrol car was involved in some sort of crash, and then struck a tree, Wagner said. The car then erupted in flames, and despite the efforts of two officers, the patrolman, who was alone in the car, could not be freed before he died. There were no other injuries, police said.

Police blocked off much of the area and said they were interviewing one taxi driver who may have been involved in the collision as well as several other witnesses. Officials would not give further details of the crash, and would not say if they were considering charges.

Wagner said the officer was a nine-year veteran of the department who was "extremely liked. ... He was very energetic, always positive."

The officer on Saturday night was assigned to work traffic enforcement, focusing on red-light runners and speeders. His last communication with the city dispatch center was at 8:40 p.m. when he reported that he had just completed a traffic stop in the 7800 block of Sheridan Street. Two minutes later, police received several 911 calls reporting the crash.

Wagner said he did not know, off the top of his head, the make and model of the patrol car, but added it was "extremely damaged."