(LAUREL, Del.)- Delaware State Police say a teen died in an early Saturday morning crash west of Laurel.
17 year old Erica Colubourne of Laurel was killed when the car she was riding in struck a utility pole on Old Sharptown Road. Police said the crash happened around 4:30 a.m.
The initial investigation has determined that the crash happened this morning, Saturday, March 21, 2015 at approximately 4:30 a.m., as Seth L. Edwards, 17, of Laurel, DE, was operating a 1998 Buick Century and was traveling in a westbound direction on Old Sharptown Road, approximately .1 mile west of Williams Road, Laurel. Edwards lost control of his vehicle as he attempted to negotiate a right hand curve in the roadway which caused it to leave the south edge of the road and strike a utility pole with its left hand side. The Buick then re-entered the roadway where it came to rest in the westbound lane.
Colbourne, who was a rear seat passenger in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. It is unknown if she was properly restrained at the time of the crash.
Seth Edwards, who was properly restrained at the time of the crash, was not injured. Alcohol use on the part of Edwards is being considered as a factor in the crash.
A 16 year old male from Laurel, DE, a 16 year old male from Salisbury, MD, and a 15 year old male from Laurel, who were passengers in the vehicle, were all removed from the scene by Emergency Medical Services and transported to the Nanticoke Memorial Hospital where they were treated for minor injuries. A 16 year old female passenger from Seaford, DE, was also removed from the scene by EMS and transported to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center where she was treated for minor injuries as well.
This crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit and charges are expected.
Old Sharptown Road was closed for approximately 4 hours as the crash was investigated and cleared.
