Mugshot of Desirae Rivera. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. THOMAS — Desirae Rivera, who was involved in a car crash near Bolongo Bay Resort, is now facing DUI charges after tests revealed her blood alcohol levels to be more than twice the legal limit. The incident occurred on May 8, with responding officers connecting Rivera to a second collision in the Hawk Hill area.
Late Monday evening, officers were dispatched following reports of a vehicular collision on Bolongo Bay Road. The central dispatch informed them that one of the vehicles involved had also been implicated in a previous crash at Hawk Hill.
Upon arrival, the officers initially spotted a woman walking eastward by some trash bins. They subsequently came across the crash site where a white Buick Verano and a gray/silver Acura TSX were involved in the accident. The Verano’s driver was absent from the scene, and it was determined that the woman seen walking earlier was the missing driver.
The woman, later identified as Desirae Rivera, was located in a dark-colored SUV that had stopped near the location where she was last seen. The driver of the SUV revealed she had stopped to offer Rivera a ride.
When asked to step out of the SUV, Rivera informed the officers that she was trying to secure a ride into town. Officers noted the smell of alcohol on her breath, slurred speech, and a particularly talkative demeanor. Rivera admitted to having consumed two alcoholic beverages earlier in the evening.
Police then escorted Rivera back to the crash site and administered standardized field sobriety tests, which she failed. A subsequent breathalyzer test indicated a blood alcohol level of .187, significantly exceeding the legal limit.
As a result, Rivera was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, having an illegal blood alcohol content, operating a vehicle without a driver’s license, and failing to report and leaving the scene of an auto collision.
During her court appearance on Wednesday, Rivera's previously posted bail of $1000 was upheld. She has been prohibited from driving pending the case's resolution and is not allowed to leave the jurisdiction without prior written approval from the court.
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