FREDERIKSTED — An unlicensed St. Croix driver told police he did not brake before striking and killing a part-time stocking clerk as he was crossing the Queen Mary Highway two days ago.
Oluwole Flores Jr. was driving an uninsured and unregistered vehicle with an expired license when he fatally struck 56-year-old Randall “Randy” Marshall, according to Superior Court records.
Officers were dispatched to the accident scene around 6:00 p.m. on Monday and discovered that Marshall was already inside an ambulance to be rushed to hospital, court documents said. At the time, he was reportedly experiencing pain to his back, shoulders and feet and was bleeding from the head.
Flores, who was identified as the driver of the vehicle told police that he was traveling from east to west on the Queen Mary Highway in the area of Freedom City Service Station when he saw a man crossing the road. According to Flores, he tried to avoid hitting the pedestrian but it was too late. Flores claimed that he was driving at approximately 25 mph and told police that he did not apply brakes as this happened suddenly.
A VIPD officer who traveled to the hospital was unable to interview the victim due to the extent of his injuries. Medical personnel reported that the pedestrian had suffered two broken feet, a broken hand, head injury and possible internal bleeding. The ER physician also informed police that the victim was in critical condition and would have to be flown off-island for further medical intervention. However, when officers followed up the following day, they learned that Marshall had succumbed to his injuries in the early morning hours.
During the course of investigations, police viewed surveillance footage which showed the victim standing on the side of the roadway in front of Freedom City Service Station. Marshall was seen looking both ways before proceeding to cross the street. According to the fact sheet, the footage indicated that he was already three-quarters of the way across when Flores struck him in the westbound lane, knocking him into the eastbound lane.
The affidavit affirms that Flores caused Marshall’s death as he failed to control his speed as was necessary to avoid colliding with the pedestrian. The officer who viewed the surveillance footage noted that Flores was seen traveling on the highway at “a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the condition or potential hazards that existed.” Police also noted that there is a visible neon pedestrian sign on the southern edge of the westbound lane where the victim was crossing.
According to police, the roadside coconut vendor was “very apologetic and remorseful” upon learning of the victim’s death. He was placed under arrest on the afternoon that Marshall succumbed. Bail was set at $25,000 and Flores was remanded to the Golden Grove Correction Facility after being unable to post the sum.
Superior Court Judge Daryl Donohue told Flores today that he faces up to five years in prison if convicted of negligent homicide by means of a motor vehicle. The accused also faces seven other charges, six of which carry maximum sentences of six months each. They include: negligent driving, speeding, failing to yield the right of way at a crosswalk and at an intersection, as well as charges for driving without valid registration or a license.
At the advice-of-rights hearing, the judge agreed to defense counsel’s recommendation for Flores to be released on the posting of $1,000 cash and the signing of an unsecured bond for the remainder of the bail amount. Attorney Vanessa Hewitt-Quinland had previously asked that Flores be required to pay at least 10 percent of the bail amount. She noted that despite his lack of a criminal history, the situation involved a tragedy.
Despite the people’s request for a higher bail amount, the judge agreed that there was no evidence that the defendant was a flight risk or that he would not adhere to the court’s conditions for his release. These conditions include an order not to leave the island without the court’s written permission and instructions to have no direct or indirect contact with any witnesses in this matter..