UPDATE: Family seeks closure in West End accident death
Richardson aka ‘Palo’ died after his vehicle, a Kia motorcar, collided with a Pathfinder SUV a short distance away from the West End Police Station on what had been a very rainy day last December. Richardson was the lone occupant of the vehicle at the time of the accident.
The driver and passenger of the other vehicle reportedly suffered broken bones in addition to a few minor injuries and were reportedly treated at Peebles Hospital and discharged.
According to sources close to the family of the deceased, there will be a memorial service at Davis Funeral Home on January 7, 2013 before Mr. Richardson's body is taken to Santo Domingo. Several members of the family are expected to accompany the body back to Richardson’s native land, Dominican Republic for funeral on the following day.
Since the accident, it has been revealed that family members have been left with more questions than answers regarding specifics on how the construction worker met his death on that fateful day.
Sources suggested that police have not fully completed their investigation into the accident and are yet to send a copy of their report on the accident to Richardson’s immediate family residing on Tortola.
According to a source, Richardson was revealed to be the only brother to a sister who resides in the Territory.
When contacted by this news site, members of the family expressed that they were still distraught at this time and were trying to focus on adding closure to the death of a close family member, which has dealt a heavy blow to relatives.
See previous story posted December 12, 2012:
UPDATE: 1 dead; 2 injured in West End highway smash-up
- Deceased indentified as Rafael Bernardino Richardson, 51, a native of Dominican Republic
WEST END, Tortola, VI- Another life has been lost in yet another horrific accident on the roadway within a week following a two-vehicle smash-up at West End yesterday, December 11, 2012.
The deceased, Virgin Islands News Online Understands, goes by the name ‘Palo’ and is said to be from the Dominican Republic. He was reportedly the driver of the car with license plate PV 0635 that collided head-on with an SUV with license plate PV 11790.
‘Palo’ reportedly died on the scene of the accident, which occurred sometime around 6 P.M.
The driver of the SUV, a male identified as Dion Rhymer, reportedly suffered broken legs. The extent of injuries to a female passenger of the SUV is not known at this time. Both are patients at Peebles Hospital.
According to reports, the car driven by ‘Palo’ was heading west when it came into contact with the SUV, which was heading in the opposite direction. The accident occurred some distance away from the West End Police Station.
Both vehicles ended up on the same side of the road, which was the lane the SUV should have been using.
Firemen had to cut the body of ‘Palo’ from the wreckage that remained of his car.
Traffic on the highway came to a standstill for nearly two hours until the body was finally removed from the scene, just when the large crowd that had built was getting agitated.
Police, in a press release today, said it is investigating a two-vehicle traffic collision that occurred yesterday afternoon around 5:45pm near the West End Police Station which has left one driver dead.
"Upon arrival at the scene, Police observed a Kia motorcar PV0635 facing west and a Pathfinder jeep PV1170 facing Road Town. The male driver and sole occupant of the Kia, Rafael Bernardino Richardson, 51, a native of Dominican Republic, who resides in West End, was met trapped behind the driver’s wheel and motionless. He was extricated from the vehicle by Fire and Rescue Officers and pronounced dead at the scene," the release stated.
Only on Tuesday December 5, 2012 fire officer Akeem Moses, 29, lost his life in a horrific accident on the James Walter Francis Highway around midnight.
The accident involved a Pathfinder and a red sports car with license plate PV 12575 in the vicinity of Supa Valu Limited and Festival Grounds. From all indications, the car was heading down the wrong way going east on the western carriageway. The eastbound carriageway was blocked from the roundabout. The vehicles reportedly collided head-on and ended up on the same side of the road. According to a man on the scene, both drivers tried to evade the impact but ended up pulling to the same side of the road.
Officers of the Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue had to cut the body of Moses out of the wreckage.
See previous story posted on December 11, 2012
UPDATE: Fatal Accident at West End; deceased reportedly from Santo Domingo
-name given as Palo; West End road re-opened
Reports reaching this news site indicate that a fatal two-vehicle smash up occurred in West End around 6PM today, December 11, 2012.
Sources revealed that several fire trucks and other emergency vehicles were seen racing to the scene of the accident which was said to be in the vicinity of the West End Police Station.
The accident involved a motor car and SUV. The victim's name was given as Palo and he is said to be from Santo Domingo.
Police have since re-opened the roadway which was previously cordoned off following the accident and forced all traffic to a halt.
Virgin Islands News Online will bring you further updates as this story unfolds.
This is the second fatal accident to occur within recent days following the death of Akeem Moses around midnight on December 5, 2012.
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55 Responses to “UPDATE: Family seeks closure in West End accident death ”
WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
A speedy recovery to you both and condolences to the family of the person that died.
Smh... Yall tola ppl are really something else. Nothing better to do than slander name !
Wowzer got to your a relative of hers...Nobody slandering nobody name...if she blighty she blighty...if she blighting the man she blighting the man. Truth is truth....the man got injured 2 times with her dat mean something ain right/ adding up with she. Misson Muck KEEP FROM HER..if you ain hear now, see, liisten or learn from this second strike you need licks. This was a wake up call and the lord telling you to STAY AWAY.