DOVER, Del. — A 26 year old woman has died following a single vehicle crash early Wednesday morning in Dover, and a friend is now claiming the victim was intoxicated and should never have been behind the wheel. Aalyah Casson, of Felton, Delaware, was pronounced dead at the scene after her 2013 Nissan Murano struck a tree on South New Street just south of West Division Street.

Police say Casson was traveling at a high rate of speed and was not wearing a seatbelt. No other vehicles were involved. The crash remains under investigation, but a Facebook post from a woman claiming to be with Casson the night of the incident alleges that Casson had been drinking and left the bar in a state of impairment.

The Crash: A Deadly Early Morning Collision

The crash occurred at approximately 12:44 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in the area of South New Street just south of West Division Street in Dover, Delaware. Dover is the state capital, a city of approximately 40,000 residents located in Kent County. South New Street is a local road in a residential area, and West Division Street is a major east west thoroughfare. The intersection is near homes and local businesses. At 12:44 a.m., the roads would have been dark and quiet, with minimal traffic.

According to the Dover Police Department, officers responded to reports of a serious collision. When they arrived, they found a 2013 Nissan Murano that had left the roadway and struck a tree on the east side of South New Street. The vehicle had sustained significant front end damage. Inside, they located Aalyah Casson, who was suffering from life threatening injuries.

Officers and emergency medical personnel immediately rendered aid at the scene. They performed CPR and other life saving measures. Casson was later pronounced dead as a result of her injuries. There was no hospital transport; she died at the scene.

Police Investigation: High Speed, No Seatbelt

According to the preliminary investigation, Casson was traveling westbound on West Division Street when she turned left onto South New Street at what investigators described as a high rate of speed. Making a left turn at high speed is dangerous. The vehicle’s center of gravity shifts, and tires can lose traction. After completing the turn, the Nissan Murano left the roadway and collided with a tree. The impact was severe. Trees are immovable objects, and the forces involved at high speed are almost always fatal.

Investigators also determined that Casson was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Seatbelts are the single most effective way to prevent death in a crash. They keep occupants inside the vehicle and distribute forces across stronger parts of the body. Without a seatbelt, a driver can be thrown into the steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield, or even ejected from the vehicle. Casson was not wearing one, and that likely contributed to the severity of her injuries.

No other vehicles were reported to be involved in the incident. The crash was a single vehicle accident; no other drivers or passengers were injured.

The Friend’s Claim: “She Should’ve NEVER Been Driving”

In the aftermath of the crash, a woman claiming to be a friend of Aalyah Casson and with her the night of the crash posted a statement on Facebook that has since drawn significant attention. The post reads:

“& to clear everything up my friend was not driving her truck when she left the bar from being with me her nigga was driving so how she got from the passenger side to the driver seat alone and speed off as drunk as she was IDK but she should’ve NEVER been driving or had access to the keys or been alone God rest her soul!”

According to this account, Casson had been at a bar earlier that night. The friend claims that Casson was “drunk as she was” and that when they left, someone else was driving her vehicle. The friend expresses confusion about how Casson ended up in the driver’s seat, alone, speeding away from the bar. She asserts that Casson should not have been driving or had access to the keys.

This statement, if accurate, suggests that Casson may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Alcohol impairs judgment, reaction time, coordination, and vision. A driver who is intoxicated is more likely to speed, misjudge turns, and lose control of their vehicle. Casson was traveling at a high rate of speed, failed to negotiate a left turn, and crashed into a tree.

It is important to note that the friend’s account has not been officially confirmed by police. Toxicology tests are standard in fatal crash investigations. The Delaware Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will perform an autopsy and test for the presence of alcohol and drugs. The results may take weeks to be finalized. The friend’s post is not official evidence, but it has raised public awareness of the possibility that impairment was a factor.

The Victim: Aalyah Casson, 26, of Felton, Delaware

Aalyah Casson was 26 years old. She was a resident of Felton, a small town in Kent County located approximately 10 miles south of Dover. At 26, she was a young woman with her whole life ahead of her. She was someone’s daughter, someone’s sister, someone’s friend. Her death is a tragedy for her family and for the Felton and Dover communities.

The original article does not provide extensive biographical details about Aalyah her occupation, her hobbies, her personality. That information will emerge in the coming days as family members speak to the media and as obituaries are published. What is known is that she was 26, that she was from Felton, and that she is gone. She was driving a Nissan Murano on a Dover street in the early morning hours when she lost control and struck a tree.

The Investigation: Pending Toxicology and Crash Reconstruction

The Dover Police Department confirmed the investigation remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine all contributing factors, including speed, roadway conditions, and the possibility of impairment. They are also reviewing the friend’s social media post and will likely attempt to interview her to gather additional information.

Key steps in the investigation include:

• Toxicology testing: Blood samples from Casson will be analyzed for alcohol and drugs. If her blood alcohol concentration is above the legal limit of 0.08 percent, impairment will be considered a factor.

• Vehicle examination: The 2013 Nissan Murano will be inspected for mechanical issues such as tire failure, brake failure, or steering problems.

• Crash reconstruction: Investigators will analyze skid marks, debris patterns, and the final resting position of the vehicle to determine the exact speed and angle of impact.

• Witness interviews: Police will interview the friend who posted on Facebook and anyone else who was with Casson before the crash. They will also seek surveillance footage from the bar or nearby establishments.

The intersection of West Division Street and South New Street will be reviewed for any safety issues. However, preliminary evidence suggests driver error was the primary cause.

The Bar and the Sequence of Events

The friend’s post indicates that Casson was at a bar earlier that night. The name of the bar has not been disclosed. The friend claims that when they left, someone else was driving Casson’s truck. Then, somehow, Casson ended up alone in the driver’s seat, speeding away. How that happened remains unclear. The friend speculates that Casson may have taken the keys or convinced the driver to let her take over.

If Casson was as drunk as the friend claims, she should not have been driving. She should not have had access to her keys. Those around her, including the friend and the person who was initially driving, may have failed to prevent her from getting behind the wheel. There may be moral, if not legal, responsibility.

The Community: Felton and Dover in Mourning

The communities of Felton and Dover are mourning the loss of Aalyah Casson. Felton is a small, close knit town. The death of a 26 year old resident is a tragedy that touches everyone. Dover, the state capital, is also in mourning.

Aalyah’s family is devastated. They have lost a daughter, a sister, a friend. They are planning a funeral instead of celebrating a milestone. The pain is immeasurable. They are also likely struggling with the public disclosure of the friend’s allegations.

The friend’s post has sparked debate on social media. Some express sympathy for Casson and her family, while others criticize her decision to drive drunk. The incident serves as a reminder of the deadly consequences of impaired driving.

The Dangers of Drunk Driving

The crash that killed Aalyah Casson, if alcohol is confirmed as a factor, is another tragic example of the dangers of drunk driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 32 people die every day in the United States in drunk driving crashes. That is one person every 45 minutes.

Drunk driving is preventable. Designated drivers, ride sharing apps, taxis, and public transportation are all available. There is no excuse for getting behind the wheel after drinking.

Casson’s friend claims she was “drunk as she was.” If true, her judgment was severely impaired. She made a series of bad decisions: she got into the driver’s seat, she drove at high speed, she attempted a left turn without slowing down, and she did not wear a seatbelt. All of these choices contributed to her death.

Holding Onto Memories

As the investigation continues and the community mourns, the family and friends of Aalyah Casson are left to do the hardest work of all. They must hold onto their memories of her while also confronting the reality of her death. They must grieve her loss while also waiting for answers. They must find a way to go on without her.

Aalyah was 26. She had her whole life ahead of her. She had dreams that will never be fulfilled, love that will never be given, moments that will never be experienced. That is the unspeakable tragedy of a young death. It is not just the loss of what was. It is the loss of what could have been.

But what was still matters. The 26 years that Aalyah lived, the people she loved, the joy she brought, the memories she created—these things are not erased by her death. They remain. They are the inheritance of her family, her friends, and everyone who knew her. And as long as those memories are held and shared and cherished, Aalyah Casson will never truly be gone.

Conclusion: A Tragic Crash Under Scrutiny

The death of Aalyah Casson, 26, of Felton, Delaware, in a single vehicle crash on South New Street in Dover, is a tragedy that has left a family shattered and a community in mourning. Police say she was traveling at high speed and not wearing a seatbelt. A friend claims she was drunk and should never have been driving. Toxicology results are pending. The investigation continues.

As Dover and Felton mourn, the community stands together in grief, offering prayers and support to Aalyah’s family. Rest in peace, Aalyah Casson. You were loved. You will be missed. And your memory will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew you. Gone too soon, forever remembered.

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or substance use, help is available. Please reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or counselor. Never drink and drive.