April 11, 2005 – An accident Monday morning on the St. Thomas waterfront has claimed the life of an unidentified man. Around 8 a.m. police were notified that a vehicle had gone over the Waterfront bulkhead, adjacent to the Holiday Inn Windward Passage. When officers and a host of emergency responders arrived at the scene, they quickly learned that "one person escaped the runaway vehicle unhurt, but the driver was trapped inside," Elvin Fahie Sr., deputy Police chief, said
One eyewitness said he thought the driver "suffered a heart attack before his car went overboard."
A diver from a nearby shop and some rescue personnel jumped into the harbor in an attempt to retrieve the victim.
It was unclear whether the vehicle was on Veterans Drive or the Waterfront apron when the accident occurred.
On the bulkhead, rescue and medical personnel worked feverishly for more than 30 minutes administering CPR before the victim was transferred to a waiting ambulance. The victim was dead on arrival at the Roy L. Schneider Hospital shortly after 9 a.m., according to hospital administrator Maureen Venzen.
"The case has been referred to my office," Medical Examiner Dr. Francisco Landron said late Monday morning. He said an autopsy will determine whether the victim died from the heart attack or whether he drowned when the vehicle he was trapped in went over the bulkhead. "I'll get to it either later today or Tuesday," Landron said Monday.
A privately-owned wrecker was called to remove the four-door Suzuki sedan from the waters of the Charlotte Amalie harbor.
Agencies responding to the accident included: V.I. Police Department, Fire Services, Emergency Medical Services, V.I.Territorial Emergency Management Agency, V.I. Port Authority Police, St. Thomas Rescue, Planning and Natural Resources Department and the U.S. Coast Guard.
