🚨HIGH-STAKES COLLISION: DRIVER BLOWS .213 BAC AFTER RAMMING POLICE VEHICLE ON BJERGE ROAD
By JOHN McCARTHY / St. Croix Sun Staff Writer
ST. THOMAS — A St. Thomas man is facing multiple criminal traffic offenses after allegedly driving nearly three times the legal limit and crashing into an unmarked government police vehicle that had both lanes of traffic blocked with its emergency lights flashing, according to Superior Court documents obtained by the St. Croix Sun.
Braulio Enmanuel Robles Lorenzo was arrested late Saturday night, May 30, following a two-vehicle collision on Bjerge Road in Charlotte Amalie.
The Crash Scene at El Conde
According to a sworn probable cause affidavit filed by VIPD Officer C. Fraser, the incident occurred at approximately 11:04 p.m.. Officer Fraser was dispatched to the Bjerge Road area, near the El Conde Bar and Restaurant on Kongens Gade, to investigate an auto collision.
Upon arriving at the scene, Officer Fraser observed an unmarked government vehicle, bearing license plate THR-235, with its red and blue emergency lights actively activated. The police vehicle was positioned to block both lanes of traffic.
The second vehicle, a car bearing license plate THO-794, was identified by citizens on the scene as belonging to the other driver. It was found parked on the side of the road by the restaurant.
Red Eyes and the Odor of Alcohol
Officer Fraser made contact with the operator of the government vehicle, Agent H. Inniss, and the driver of the second car, identified as Braulio Lorenzo. Both operators refused medical attention at the scene. Detective E. Rijo and Detective S. Simon of the VIPD Criminal Investigation Bureau also responded to the crash site.
While taking statements and checking vehicle documentation, Officer Fraser immediately noticed that Lorenzo exhibited red, glossy eyes and emanated a strong odor of alcohol when he spoke.
Lorenzo was read his Miranda rights and detained on suspicion of driving under the influence. Before being transported, Lorenzo was permitted to secure his vehicle and hand his keys and pocket contents over to his brother, who was present on the scene. Lorenzo was then placed in marked patrol unit PD-293 and transported to the Richard N. Callwood Command.
Triple Sobriety Failure and a .213 Reading
At the police station, VIPD Captain L. Schneider administered three Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. According to court records, Lorenzo completely failed to properly perform all three exercises:
The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test
The Walk-and-Turn test
The One-Legged Stand
Following the physical tests, Lorenzo submitted to an evidential breathalyzer test. The machine recorded a final breath alcohol concentration of .213 percent—nearly triple the Virgin Islands legal driving limit of .080 percent.
Unlicensed Driving and Court Appearance
During processing, investigators discovered an additional infraction: Lorenzo was allegedly driving without a valid license.
He was booked, processed, and subsequently released on bail pending his mandatory Advice of Rights hearing, which was scheduled for this morning, Monday, June 1, 2026, at the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands.
Lorenzo has been formally charged with:
Driving Under the Influence (20 V.I.C. § 493(a)(1))
Driving With Illegal Blood Alcohol Level (20 V.I.C. § 493(a)(2))
Operating a Vehicle Without a Valid Driver's License (20 V.I.C. § 371(a))
Negligent Driving (20 V.I.C. § 503)
