DDN – A cement truck driver died in an accident in the Smith Bay region on Friday morning after his vehicle drove off the hillside and overturned many times, according to the Virgin Islands Police Department.
According to a police release, officers arrived at the incident on January 3 at around 9:30 a.m., after receiving a call from the 911 Emergency Call Center reporting the collision. Dispatchers reported that the cement truck was 200 to 300 feet downhill, with the driver trapped inside and unresponsive.
Upon arrival, officers requested the help of the Motor Carrier Unit, as well as emergency professionals from the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services (VIFEMS) and St. Thomas Rescue. Rescue personnel descended the hillside and determined at 10:12 a.m. that the driver had died from his injuries.
Initial investigations found that the driver, identified as Liston Pickering, an employee of Heavy Material LLC, was reversing southeast uphill with a load of cement when the rear right tire collided with a large boulder on the roadside.
The hit led the truck to slip uncontrollably downhill, eventually crashing into the slope. The truck tumbled several times before coming to a halt at the bottom.
The VIPD has said that the incident is still under investigation. Authorities have not disclosed any additional information at this time.
Anyone with more information on the incident is requested to call the VIPD at (340) 774-2211 or the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
Reference: Cement Truck Accident in St. Thomas Claims Life of Driver
Leave a Reply