Hunt is on for escaped crash driver

Thursday 24 July 2014

Police are searching for the driver of a car involved in a fatal road crash who is thought to have skipped the Island.

Jose Joao Santos Silva (21) is due in Magistrate’s Court on 1st August to face a charge of causing death by dangerous driving following the crash on Victoria Avenue last December.

He is also charged with making a false statement to his insurance company and driving without insurance, and was due to be indicted for trial by the Royal Court.

The charges relate to a high speed collision involving two vehicles near the junction with First Tower on 30^th December which led to the death of 22-year-old Vitor Fernandes. Following the incident, the avenue was closed for over nine hours.

Mr Santos Silva, of Aigremont Farm in St Saviour, was last seen in the Parish on Thursday 17^th July and was reported missing by friends at the weekend, but police now believe he used a false name to travel to France by boat on Tuesday. Investigations suggest he has travelled to Portugal or Madeira.

Yesterday, police arrested a 38-year-old man on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.