ST. CROIX — Two individuals innocently driving on the Melvin Evans Highway near East Airport Road were injured Sunday night when a blue car being driven by a shooting suspect crashed into the victims’ vehicle.

Both victims were transported to the Juan F. Luis Hospital for medical attention, according to V.I.P.D. Director of Communications Glen Dratte.

The incident follows a shooting reported to the 911 Emergency Call Center moments earlier the Friday at about 8:05 p.m. According to Mr. Dratte, a suspect had shot at a vehicle on the Melvin Evans Highway in the area of Estate Paradise. The incident was reported to 911, and officers in the area were able to locate the blue car suspected to be involved in the shooting and gave pursuit. 

The blue car was being driven by a single suspect, according to the V.I.P.D., and the male driver led police on a high-speed chase on the highway heading east, until the chase came to an end when the suspect crashed into the vehicle with the two victims by the intersection at East Airport Road.

Mr. Dratte said the suspect immediately abandoned the blue car he was driving and escaped into nearby bushes and evaded police.

The victims were transported to JFL for observation and treatment after complaining of pain from the crash’s impact, according to police. No injuries were reported from the shooting that led to the high-speed chase.

The V.I.P.D. is asking anyone with information about these incidents to send an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers USVI here.

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