FREDERIKSTED — A St. Croix man was struck and killed by a driver at a busy intersection without a stoplight in Estate Concordia on Monday evening, eyewitnesses said.
The Virgin Islands Police Department has not responded to a request for comment more than 24 hours after the death of the man who worked part-time at Freedom City Service Station.
The fatal accident occurred between about 5:30 p.m. Monday when a stocking clerk named “Randy” crossed to the south side of the Queen Mary Highway directly in front of the gas station, eyewitnesses told the Virgin Islands Free Press.
VIPD spokesman Toby Derima referred the V.I. Free Press to VIPD “Communications Director” Glen Dratte who did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Eyewitnesses said the victim was struck by a vehicle and thrown 30 feet in the air forwards before landing in front of a mahogany tree at the station.
The pedestrian, who was taken by ambulance to the Juan F. Luis Hospital, died about 12 hours later in the ER as hospital staff prepared him for an air evacuation for further treatment off-island.
Eyewitnesses said the victim looked twice before crossing the roadway and that it was still daylight when the man was struck by a vehicle and fatally injured.
Before and after the motorist’s collision with the pedestrian was captured on surveillance video, which showed “Randy” was blindsided by the driver.
The age of the deceased was estimated to be between 55 and 60 years old.
Meanwhile, there was an outpouring of grief and sympathy on social media for the “quiet man” who was killed on Monday.
“He’s a dear customer-worker with an awesome attitude and friendly jokes… I will miss him dearly,” Kathy Mendoza said on Facebook.
“Kathy Mendoza who he was, Kathy?” Carmen M. Santiago replied to Kathy Mendoza.
Kathy Mendoza replied to Carmen M/ Santiago that the injured man’s name was “Randy.”