BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – POLICE have charged Synrick Henderson of Dieppe Bay, St. Kitts, with multiple offences in connection with a fatal traffic accident that occurred at White Gate on March 22.
The crash claimed the life of 17-year-old Shanique Harvey, also of Dieppe Bay, and left seven other passengers injured.
On Saturday (Apr. 26), police formally charged Henderson with one count of Driving Without Insurance, one count of Driving Without a Valid and Unexpired Licence, one count of Manslaughter by Gross Negligence, and seven counts of Grievous Bodily Harm.
The charges come amid heightened efforts by law enforcement to address dangerous driving on the Federation’s roads, which continues to result in serious injuries and fatalities.
Just last week, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Adlai Smith spoke out about the increasing number of road fatalities. He revealed that another individual had been charged in connection with a traffic accident, a case believed to involve Henderson.
“Well manslaughter by gross negligence arises when a person having a duty to take reasonable care breaches that duty so seriously that it results in the death of another," Smith said in a video statement. "Now in the context of road usage this can include reckless or dangerous driving practises. It is a very serious offence that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.”
He continued: “Causing death in these circumstances manslaughter by gross negligence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Now my office believes that in light of the alarming rise in fatal traffic accidents the time has come to consider in appropriate cases charges of manslaughter rather than treating road deaths as mere traffic infractions.”
Smith also emphasized the heightened responsibility of public transportation providers.
“In particular, public transportation providers, including bus and taxi operators, must be reminded that they bear an even higher duty, given that their conduct can endanger the lives of multiple passengers at the same time,” he said. “The risk posed by negligent or reckless public service driving in the Federation is real—and it is deadly.”
He added, “Now, as Director of Public Prosecutions, I have personally witnessed troubling behaviours on our roads, including overtaking on blind hills, overtaking while approaching roundabouts or corners, excessive speeding through residential zones, and excessive speeding on wet roads.”
Smith also announced that Lennox Nathaniel Greaves of Molyneux, St. Kitts, has been charged with Causing Death by Careless Driving, contrary to Section 50, Subsection 4 of the Vehicles and Road Traffic Act. This charge relates to the December 20, 2024, accident that claimed the life of medical practitioner Dr. Simoneth Williams.
"The risk posed by negligent or reckless public service driving in the federation is real and it is deadly. Now as director of public prosecutions on my part I have personally witnessed troubling behaviours on our roads to include overtaking on blind hills, overtaking while approaching roundabouts or corners, excessive speeding through residential zones, and expressive speeding on wet roads," Smoth noted.
Dr. Williams was fatally struck along the St. Peter's Main Road, near New Road by the airport runway, on the night of the incident.
