Driver hits pedestrian – later realized victim is close relative

A family on Virgin Gorda is still struggling to come to grips with an accident that has left 73-year-old Anselmo Hodge dead, and one of his closest male relative under police investigation.

Hodge was walking home last week Friday night (January 27) when he was struck by a vehicle in the area of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Valley.

It is said that the driver saw the person in the road, but it reportedly was too late for him to avoid contact.

Hodge, who was attired in a black and white shirt and a pair of black pants, was struck.

The driver reportedly stopped and exited the vehicle – only to realize the victim is one of his closest relative.

Hodge was taken to Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic on Virgin Gorda, then transported to Peebles Hospital on the island of Tortola.

He died on Saturday.

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), in a media release, stated that the driver of the vehicle has been ‘assisting’ in the investigation.

“The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force is confirming the death of a 73-year-old male pedestrian following a traffic collision in the Valley, Virgin Gorda.”

“The pedestrian was taken to the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic following the collision which took place after 8pm [Friday] night and then transported to Peebles Hospital where he later died,” said the RVIPF.