St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands – On Sunday, August 27, 2023, at approximately 12:05 a.m., the Patrol Division at Ancilmo Marshall Command was dispatched and traveled to Catherine’s Rest Road, Route 83, to investigate a one vehicle collision that occurred in the vicinity of the Jewish Synagogue.

Upon their arrival at the scene, officers observed a vehicle engulfed in flames, and as a result, notified the Fire Department via 911 to travel to the scene. A fire engine from the Herbert L. Canegata Fire Station in Richmond arrived quickly on the scene and was able to contain, control and extinguish the fire. Upon extinguishing the fire, officers observed a body in the driver’s seat of the Jeep Wrangler.

The Traffic Investigation Bureau was notified and traveled to the scene to conduct an investigation into the crash.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the operator of the vehicle was heading southbound on Catherine’s Rest Road, Route 83, when they lost control of the vehicle, veered into the northbound lane then into the western shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle struck a tree on the western shoulder of the road and flipped onto its side and caught on fire. The start of the fire is unknown at this time.

The Traffic Investigation Bureau is currently investigating this incident. Due to the severity of the crash, the deceased cannot be positively identified at this time. The identification process is pending.