DOJ Releases Names Of Plane Crash Victims

The Virgin Islands Department of Justice, Office of the Medical Examiner announced on Monday afternoon the names of the five men who died last week during a plane crash on St. Croix.

In keeping with established protocol required for aircraft disasters, federal and local authorities officially notified the nearest relatives of each of the five victims, allowing for the formal public release of the names of the decedents as follows:

1. David Richardson, 49, of Estate Lovenlund, St. Thomas;
2. Kyle Sylvester, 27, of Estate Whim, Frederiksted, St. Croix;
3. Collin Williams, 30, of Hannah’s Rest, Frederiksted, St. Croix;
4. Raheem Charlery, 24, of Frederiksted, St. Croix; and
5. Jamal Soldiew, 30, of Frederiksted, St. Croix.

The plane crash occurred on the evening of Dec. 7 at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport. All five people on board were killed. The National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”), Transportation Disaster Assistance Division, is conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the fatal crash.

The crash occurred about 8:54 p.m. on Thursday, according to a statement the Port Authority issued on its Facebook page.

Police Commissioner Delroy Richards told The Consortium hours after the crash that the aircraft took off from the St. Croix airport and soon after started experiencing engine problems, with flames coming from one of its two engines. The pilot circled back and attempted to land at the airport, but the plane crashed in a field area near the runway, leaving all occupants dead, Mr. Richards said, corroborating an F.A.A. notice of the crash.

David Goodrich, commander of St. Croix Rescue’s extrication team, who was on the scene of the incident, told The Consortium that by the time they arrived to the area, there was nothing they could do.

Moments following the accident, the V.I.P.D. cordoned off the east and west entrances of the airport, only allowing in first responders. The V.I. Fire Service and other first responder agencies were already on the scene when a medical examiner vehicle was spotted heading to the area.

While the deaths of all the victims have saddened the territory, the loss of Mr. Sylvester (seen above), known to many as “Kylo” — the unmistaken performer who sang lead with the well-known Stylee Band — immediately dampened the festival season, as the band has been a Virgin Islands mainstay for over a decade, and is known to bring some of the most anticipated performances during the Festival Village, j’ouvert morning and the parades. Mr. Sylvester’s performance style grabs the audience, keeping eventgoers entertained with his raspy voice and ever-changing dance moves.

The shocking and tragic news evoked a torrent of responses by residents and diasporas alike, all offering condolences to the family members of the victims, while expressing disbelief at Mr. Sylvester’s sudden death.

Below, a video showing a recent performance by Mr. Sylvester at the St. Thomas Carnival Village, captured by The Consortium.