Crime

Police: Driver Panicked at Traffic Enforcement, Crashed, Then Loaded Gun Fell From Truck

ST. THOMAS — A St. Thomas man faces firearm and traffic charges after police say he crashed head-on into one vehicle and sideswiped another, with a loaded handgun falling onto the roadway as officers removed him from his heavily damaged Ford Ranger. Kherique Lewis appeared in court Monday, where Magistrate Julie Smith Todman found probable cause to uphold all charges against him and reduced his bail from $75,000 to $50,000. The incident began late Friday afternoon as officers conducted traffic enforcement at the intersection of Elmo D. Roebuck Sr. Drive and Bakkero Way. Police said they saw a red Ford Ranger pass three vehicles before turning east onto Elmo D. Roebuck Sr. Drive and decided to follow the truck. As officers drove east looking for the Ranger, they encountered several vehicles pulled onto the side of the road before hearing a loud crash. Police said they then saw the Ford, which had collided head-on with a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction and sideswiped a thi...