VIPD Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program Unit officers, Emergency Medical Technicians, and personnel from the Virgin Islands Fire Service at the Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, where a man was killed in forklift accident. By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — A forklift accident at a resort construction site in St. Thomas Saturday morning has resulted in the death of the operator, V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Toby Derima has announced.
According to the news release, on Saturday at roughly 8:47 a.m., the 911 Emergency Call Center received a call of an overturned work vehicle at the Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, also indicating that the operator was trapped in it.
Officers traveled to the resort and found the vehicle, a heavy-duty forklift, in the delivery driveway of the hotel on its left side. The operator, a Caucasian male, was trapped and unresponsive under the cab area of the forklift.
Emergency Medical Technicians on the scene concluded that the operator had no signs of life. The identity of the operator is being withheld pending notification of next of kin by the VIPD, according to Mr. Derima.
In a statement issued Sunday, Frenchman's Reef Managing Director Kurt Wiksten said, "On Saturday morning an accident resulted in the tragic death of a contract worker at the Frenchman's Reef construction site. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of John Nigg, a St. Thomas resident and valued member of our construction team. No other workers were injured. Work was halted and an investigation has been initiated in full cooperation with authorities as we seek to determine the cause of today’s heartbreaking event.“
This incident is being investigated by the VIPD Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program Unit. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact police by calling 911 or the VIPD MCSAP Unit at (340) 774-2211.
