Man Dies In Single-Vehicle Collision On Veteran’s Drive

ST. THOMAS — A single-vehicle collision here on Friday led to the death of one victim, but amounts to four vehicular deaths in the territory in less than two weeks — three of which occurred in St. Croix in the span of three days.

According to V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Glen Dratte, on Friday at approximately 12:02 a.m., officers were dispatched to Veterans Drive in the area of Griffith Ballpark to reports of an auto collision. Upon arrival the officers observed a damaged white pickup truck with an unresponsive black male slouched over in the driver’s seat.

According to Mr. Dratte, a preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was operating his vehicle traveling eastward on Veterans Drive in the area of Griffith Park, when he lost control and ran off the eastern side of the roadway, colliding into the concrete support of the light pole.

The driver, identified as 51-year-old Jerome Matthew, was transported to the Roy Lester Schneider Regional Medical Center by ambulance, where he died of his injuries sustained from the auto collision at 12:58 a.m.

Investigation of the deadly incident has been turned over to the V.I.P.D.’s traffic division for further examination, according to Mr. Dratte.