A motor scooter rider died Sunday on St. Thomas after he lost control of his bike and struck a rock on the side of the road, the V.I. Police Department reported.
The accident prompted a warning from the VIPD for motorists to obey the rules of the road, especially speed limits.
A firefighter reported the accident to the 911 Emergency Call Center at about 4:10 p.m. Sunday in the area of Estate Canaan. Officers responding to the scene found Vincent Henley, 59, lying lifeless in the grass on the western side of the road, the VIPD said.
Preliminary investigation by the Traffic Investigation Bureau revealed that Henley was riding a motor scooter from Magens Bay, heading west, when he lost control and struck a large rock on the left side of the road, the VIPD reported.
Henley was then thrown from the scooter into the grass, where his head struck another large rock, and died on the scene, police said. No other vehicles were involved in the collision.
St. Thomas-St. John District Traffic Commander Capt. Roslyn Jarvis called on motorists to follow the rules of the road 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,” said Jarvis.
The accident investigation is ongoing, the VIPD said.
