Two people are dead following a single-car accident just after midnight Tuesday on Weymouth Rhymer Highway on St. Thomas, the V.I. Police Department and St. Thomas Rescue reported.
According to Public Information Officer Chris Watson, St. Thomas Rescue was notified of the crash at 12:48 a.m. Tuesday by the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency, which reported that people were said to be trapped in the vehicle.
Upon arrival at the scene, medical personnel determined that the occupants of the car were dead, and St. Thomas Rescue, the V.I. Fire and Emergency Medical Services and the VIPD undertook a joint operation to extricate the victims using mechanical means, according to the press release.
Police spokesman Glen Dratte said the accident happened when a silver Acura TSX traveling east on Weymouth Rhymer Highway between New Herrnhut Road and the Donoe Bypass lost control and climbed the embankment of the shoulder of the eastbound lane. The right side of the vehicle then struck a tree, causing injuries to the driver and the passenger, he said.
Next of kin identified the driver as Vernon Ferris, 28, and the passenger as Tiniesha Smith, 29.
