Scene of accident on Oct. 16, 2022 that left 59-year-old Vincent Henley dead. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — A man was pronounced dead on the scene Sunday afternoon following what the V.I. Police Department says was a single vehicle accident in Estate Canaan.
According to V.I.P.D. Director of Communications Glen Dratte, on Sunday at about 4:10 p.m., a firefighter with the V.I. Fire Service reported to the 911 Emergency Call Center a motorcycle collision in the area of Estate Canaan. Upon arrival of emergency personnel, contact was made with a black male, identified by next of kin as 59-year-old Vincent Henley, who was lying unresponsive in the grass on the western side of the roadway.
A preliminary investigation by the V.I.P.D.'s Traffic Investigation Bureau revealed that Henley was riding a motorcycle traveling from Magens Bay and heading westward when he lost control and struck a large rock on the left side of the roadway. He was thrown from the scooter and into the grass where his head struck another large rock, according to the V.I.P.D. investigation.
No other vehicles were involved in the collision, according to the V.I.P.D., though the investigation into the matter remains open.
Henley's passing was the second deadly motorcycle accident in St. Thomas in two weeks, and the third vehicular death on the island in October.
On Oct. 1, a man identified as 54-year-old Arthur John Goetsch was pronounced dead on the scene after he lost control of his motorcycle, struck an object and was ejected, according to the V.I.P.D. Then on Friday, Oct. 7, a man identified as 26-year-old Keonae A. Turnbull died on the scene after the vehicle he was traveling in collided with another vehicle and flipped on its top on Veterans Drive.
St. Thomas-St. John District Traffic Commander, Captain Roslyn Jarvis, called on motorists to follow road rules and be courteous drivers. "We really need to go back to the basics and follow the traffic rules and regulations and the laws — especially the speed limit," she said. "We could see that these crashes are closely related to speed, so we're asking the public to please follow the traffic regulations, make sure to wear your seat belt, stay as far left as you can and drive with courtesy and consideration for everybody using the road."
