A heavily damaged green Suzuki Vitara rests off Queen Mary Highway after crashing into a mahogany tree near Mt. Plessen in Frederiksted, leaving two people dead. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX — Two people were killed Sunday afternoon when a vehicle traveling along Queen Mary Highway in Frederiksted left the roadway and crashed into a mahogany tree, according to the V.I. Police Department, which said the matter remains under investigation.
According to VIPD Director of Communications Glen Dratte, the crash was reported at approximately 12:02 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, after the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency’s 911 dispatch notified the Traffic Investigation Bureau of a one-vehicle collision on the southern shoulder of Queen Mary Highway, Route 70, near The Market Supermarket in Frederiksted.
By the time investigators arrived, members of EMS Fire were preparing to extricate the vehicle’s two occupants.
Police said both the driver and the passenger died at the scene.
According to the preliminary investigation, Carlos Sterling was driving a green 2004 Suzuki Vitara eastbound on Queen Mary Highway, Route 70, at what police described as an apparent high rate of speed when the vehicle quickly veered to the right, crossed the westbound lane, and collided with a mahogany tree located on the southern shoulder of the westbound lane near the Mt. Pleasant West Housing Community.
VIPD said both occupants were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
The department reported that the bark of the mahogany tree was damaged by the impact, while the vehicle sustained considerable front-end damage.
The driver was identified as Carlos Sterling, 83, and the passenger as Alexis D. Brodhurst, 62. Police said both were identified by their next of kin.
The crash remains under investigation by the Traffic Investigation Bureau.
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