St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands – On Saturday, August 23, 2025, at approximately 4:07 a.m., Traffic Investigation Bureau Officers were informed of a one vehicle fatality that occurred on the shoulder of the Melvin H. Evans Highway (Route 66) westbound lane in the vicinity of the William D. Roebuck Industrial Park.
Preliminary investigation revealed the operator of the vehicle was traveling westbound when the vehicle suddenly veered left onto the shoulder of the road at a high rate of speed and collided with a WAPA pole.
Emergency Medical Technician at the scene were unable to find any signs of life of the vehicle’s operator. The next of kin identified the driver as 22-year-old, Phi-Jah E. Merchant.
This case remains open and under investigation by the Virgin Island Police Department Traffic Investigation Bureau, St. Croix District.
