A Lawrence County couple were killed last night when the car in which they were riding struck a tree, state police said.

The driver, Gerald C. Murberger Jr., 26, of Enon Valley, and his passenger, Christina M. Hammond, 22, of New Castle, had been traveling east on Columbiana Road in North Beaver at 9:56 p.m. The driver was speeding when he lost control of the car in the 400 block of Columbiana, veered off the roadway and struck a tree just over a half mile west of Small Ferry Road, police said.

Mr. Murberger was flung from the vehicle on impact. Ms. Hammond was trapped inside the car.

Ms. Hammond was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr. Murberger was taken by helicopter to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio, where he was pronounced dead at 11:19 p.m., police said.