(Photo: MGN)WOODSIDE and MILLSBORO, Del.- Delaware State Police are investigating two separate single-vehicle fatal crashes that occurred overnight.
The most recent crash happened south of Woodside in Kent County. Police said that at around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, 49-year-old Clarence L. Peterson of Felton was operating a 1998 Jeep Cherokee southbound on Upper King Road south of Henry Cowgill Road.
Investigators said that for unknown reasons, the Cherokee drove off the west side of the roadway where it traveled more than 300 feet, striking three mailboxes and two utility poles before rotating counterclockwise and rolling onto the driver's side before coming to a stop.
Troopers said Peterson, who was not properly restrained, was ejected from the vehicle and landed on the asphalt shoulder. He was transported from the scene by EMS to Kent General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Upper King Road south of Henry Cowgill Road was closed for approximately three hours as the crash was investigated and cleared.
The other crash under investigation reportedly occurred at around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday west of Millsboro. Troopers said 31-year-old Jose Luis Rojas Jr. of Millsboro was operating a 2000 Ford Excursion southbound on Lynch Road just south of Bald Branch Road and approaching a moderate left curve. According to police, Rojas failed to negotiate the curve and drove off the west side of the roadway. Investigators said the vehicle then re-entered the roadway and began rotating in a clockwise manner before leaving the west side of the road where it began to roll over, ejecting Rojas from the vehicle. The vehicle then came to a stop on its roof in a field.
Police said Rojas, who was not properly restrained, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lynch Road south of Bald Branch Road was closed for approximately three hours as the crash was investigated and cleared.
The DSP Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing to investigate both crashes.
