DOVER — A 20-year-old Smyrna woman died after a single-vehicle crash at 1:48 a.m. Thursday, Delaware State Police spokeswoman Master Cpl. Melissa Jaffe said.

Authorities said the incident occurred when a 2008 Volkswagen Passat was traveling northbound on Pearson’s Corner Road south of Dinah’s Corner Road. The Passat was traveling at a high rate of speed when it entered a moderate right curve causing it to exit the roadway and strike a private mailbox and plastic trash can, police said.

The Passat continued northbound across a private yard and struck a pine tree. The impact caused both the driver and passenger to be ejected from the vehicle.

The driver was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Identification is pending notification of next of kin.

A 26-year-old female passenger from Smyrna was not wearing a seat belt and was transported to Christiana Hospital where she was admitted in serious condition with non-life threatening injuries.

The roadway was closed for approximately five hours while the crash was investigated.