A tragic accident resulted in the death of a 27-year-old Estate Carolina resident on Wednesday evening, February 7.
Kathleen Hewson, a Massachusetts native, parked her Suzuki Samurai on an incline close to her driveway on Cedar Lane in Estate Carolina and got out to close a nearby gate, according to Shawna Richards, V.I. Police Department spokesperson.
Brakes Not Engaged?
“According to the preliminary investigation, it appears the brakes may not have been engaged and the vehicle rolled down the hill and pinned her against a truck that was parked,” said Richards. “Hewson was pinned between a truck and her vehicle. It appears that her ribs were broken and punctured her lung.”
Hewson’s landlord heard the accident and called 911 around 6:30 p.m, Richards explained.
Katie, as Hewson was known to friends, was a friendly and popular waitress and bartender at Aqua Bistro in Coral Bay. Hew-son’s roommate, who also works at Aqua Bistro, got a phone call around 6:30 p.m. at the restaurant altering her to the accident.
Two friends accompanied Hewson’s roommate to the scene, where they found Katie face down in her driveway, according to a witness.
Hewson was reportedly conscious, although disoriented, when the friends arrived. She had “labored breathing,” but “didn’t respond or acknowledge,” that anyone was there with her, according to friends at the scene.
V.I. Fire Department officials arrived on the scene first, followed by EMTs who transported Hewson to Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center.
Hewson was pronounced dead at 8:15 p.m., according to Rich-ards, however, the police log indicates a DOA at 6:45 p.m. on the same day.
