Horrific car crash in front of StarKist kills 4 men — all employees

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The driver of the vehicle that was involved in a horrific car crash early Saturday morning in front of StarKist Samoa cannery at Atu’u has a prior driving under the influence of alcohol conviction. He is suspected of DUI in this crash accident.

This was the statement from the DPS Deputy Commissioner, Foifua Foifua Jr during a telephone interview with Samoa News regarding this tragic incident. All four people killed died on the scene.

 The aftermath at the StarKist front gate after the car crash Saturday morning where four men — employees of StarKist —  were killed on the scene. A car crashed into another vehicle in front of the main gate right as employees were gathering outside the gate — waiting for their rides to go home. [photo by AF]

The driver of the vehicle was transported to the LBJ Hospital for treatment for minor injuries by the EMS crew. He was arrested after being discharged from the hospital Saturday afternoon and transported to the Fagatogo Police Central for questioning.

Foifua Jr told Samoa News that the vehicle involved in the incident was pulled over by traffic officers at the Satala Cemetery area for speeding prior to the incident. Two people were in the vehicle. A male individual was the driver while a female individual was the passenger.

Officers approached the driver of the vehicle to inform him the reason for the stop; but while officers were speaking to the driver, the driver took off and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit ended when the vehicle crashed into another vehicle coming from eastbound to westbound — right in front of the cannery main gate.

Foifua Jr., also confirmed that aside from employees who were taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries caused by the incident, cops also took into custody other StarKist employees for interfering with police duties.

Videos filmed by cannery workers and members of the public at the scene showed workers trying to get bodies out of the vehicles. The driver of the speeding vehicle, who is reported to have been intoxicated and his female passenger, said to be his girlfriend, were rushed to the hospital.

Information gathered by Samoa News from cannery employees, police and others who were at the scene on Saturday morning say that police were pursuing a white vehicle with a male driver and female passenger that was speeding and overtaking vehicles on the road.

A vehicle from Masefau that was picking up family members getting off the night shift at the cannery was coming onto the main road after picking up their family member when the speeding vehicle crashed into it.

A cannery worker who had just picked up his cases of tuna — Christmas gifts from StarKist — was struck by the speeding vehicle as he stepped out of the cannery gate. Also killed was a security guard at the gate. Several other employees were injured and taken to the hospital.

Several StarKist employees told Samoa News that one of the deceased is said to be a recently hired guest worker from Samoa. However, a cannery official said the four victims have been with StarKist for at least three years. None were guest workers.

Videos posted by several employees and members of the community on Facebook show that several employees complained to police officers who were at the scene for not offering any help to the victims while they were lying on the ground and on the side of the road.

A woman posted on her Facebook page saying that “police officers were there at the scene are first responders but ain’t doing CPR. This tells us how 1st responders are not doing what they should know what to do in situation like this. First responders do CPR. Community and workers should learn CPR.”

Family members along with StarKist employees and friends gathered at the LBJ Chapel during a special service for the four men killed in the accident. DPS investigators also joined them as one family for a moment of prayer and to seek God’s mercy and comfort during these difficult times.

Flowers were placed under the post at the StarKist front gate early yesterday morning in memory of one of the 4 men killed in the tragic car crash that happened in front of the StarKist plant in the early hours of Saturday morning. Samoa News off ers its sincere condolences to the families who lost loved ones. [photo by AF]

One woman who was at the morgue’s chapel during the special service told Samoa News that “I don’t know any of the deceased but imagine the suffering these families and children are facing — not only for this time of the year but for the rest of their lives.”