ST. CROIX — An automobile accident occurred on Saturday resulting in severe injuries to a male driver, according to the V.I. Police Department. The incident took place near the William D. Roebuck Industrial Park on Melvin H. Evans Highway at approximately 11:58 a.m.

The VIPD's Special Operations Bureau and the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) responded to the scene where Fire and Rescue personnel found the driver with critical injuries. An alarming detail noted was a galvanized pipe protruding from the victim's face, which he sustained while seated in the driver's compartment.

The victim was swiftly transported to Juan F. Luis Hospital for emergency medical treatment. Due to the gravity of his injuries, local physicians recommended that he be airlifted for specialized surgery to address the four-foot pipe embedded in his face. He was flown out of the territory Sunday morning.

Initial investigations by the VIPD suggest that the vehicle, a Toyota Tundra pickup truck, was traveling westbound at a high rate of speed. The vicitm reportedly lost control of his vehicle, collided with a guardrail, veered off the road, and went airborne after striking an embankment and a concrete box, before coming to rest in the bushes.

Eyewitness accounts and evidence from the scene confirmed that the victim was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident, as mandated by Title 20 section 466 of the Virgin Islands Code. Despite this precaution, the severity of the crash led to the tragic incident involving the galvanized pipe.

The family of the victim has been notified and were present at JFL Hospital to support him before his transfer for further medical care. The VIPD continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident and reminds the public of the importance of safe driving practices.