Nearly a year after a devastating multi-vehicle collision on Saint Lucia’s Vieux Fort-Laborie Highway claimed the life of a 4-year-old kindergarten student, law enforcement officials have confirmed that criminal charges are imminent in the case. The tragic crash, which unfolded last October close to two high-profile local landmarks — Hewanorra International Airport and the island’s Marine Base — left 11 other people injured besides the young victim, identified as Rikki Samuel.
At the time of the incident, Rikki was traveling alongside his father Jonard Samuel, a local taxi driver, when their vehicle became one of the multiple units involved in the collision. The young boy did not survive the impact, leaving the local community in mourning and sparking calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the crash.
In an exclusive interview with local outlet St Lucia Times, Superintendent Stephen Victorin, head of the Saint Lucia Police Force’s Southern Division, shared key updates on the months-long probe. According to Victorin, the investigation has cleared an early initial hypothesis that had been floated shortly after the crash.
“Initially, the suggestion was that a gentleman might have suffered some medical difficulty during the collision,” Victorin explained. “[But] that has been dispelled.” With that line of inquiry ruled out, investigators have advanced the case far enough that formal charges are now the next step in the legal process.
While the senior police official confirmed that charges are being prepared, he declined to share details on what specific offenses will be laid or which individual will face them. Victorin added that the public will receive timely updates as the case moves through the legal system, noting that authorities will release new information as the investigation progresses further.