ST. CROIX — An 88-year-old man lost his life following a traffic accident on Southside Road, Route 62, near H&H Tire and Battery on Wednesday, November 13, according to the V.I. Police Department. The incident, reported at approximately 4:26 p.m., involved two vehicles traveling in the same direction.

According to the police report, upon responding to the emergency call, a VIPD Traffic Officer found a blue Chevy Colorado on the grounds of Bethel Deliverance Center Church, with the driver unresponsive at the wheel. According to initial investigations, the Chevy Colorado, driven by 88-year-old Mathew Telesford, had rear-ended a black Cadillac Escalade as both vehicles traveled northbound.

The impact caused the Chevy Colorado to veer right, colliding with a utility pole before crashing into a concrete slab. Emergency Medical Technicians arrived on the scene and determined that Mr. Telesford had succumbed to his injuries. The driver and passenger of the Cadillac Escalade were uninjured.

The incident is currently under investigation by the VIPD’s Traffic Investigation Bureau in the St. Croix District.