UPDATE: Early morning fatal crash under investigation in Dover, victim identified

DOVER, Del. – Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal crash that happened early Thursday morning.

The accident happened shortly before 2 a.m. on Pearson’s Corner Road (CR 101) south of Dinah’s Corner Road. Officials say a 2008 Volkswagen Passat was traveling at a high rate of speed when it entered a moderate right curve, causing the vehicle to exit the roadway where it hit a private mailbox and plastic trash can. The vehicle then continued driving across a private yard and hit a pine tree, ejecting the driver and passenger from the vehicle.

The driver, identified as 20-year-old Tighaira Lacree Sayles of Georgetown, was reportedly not properly restrained and was pronounced dead on scene.

The passenger, a 26-year-old female from Smyrna was also not properly restrained and was taken to Christiana Hospital in serious condition with non-life threatening injuries.

Officials say the road was closed for approximately five hours while it was investigated and cleared.