Police hold person for questioning

SAUNDERS--An eighteen-year-old dancer and soon-to-be-university student died two weeks before her birthday in a car crash in Saunders early Monday.

Police held one person, who was identified only as R.P.J.G., for allegedly driving the car that witnesses said had chased Khimouy Andromeda Antoine through Saunders about 2:00am yesterday.

Antoine crashed her blue Suzuki Swift with licence plate number 408ZBE971 into a light post on Coralita Road and died when the car fell on the driver's side. Firemen had to free her body from the wreckage of the car.

Antoine's death was the only fatality in a weekend when officers responded to eight traffic accidents. Occupants involved in three crashes were unhurt, police said.

One other accident was a hit-and-run, and drivers or passengers were hurt in four other crashes, including the Antoine.

Antoine would have turned 19 on August 12. She graduated from Learning Unlimited (LU) Preparatory School last month and planned to start at Florida A&M University (FAMU) next month.

Antoine had danced with Motiance Dance Company for many years and starred in several productions for the 25-year-old dance school. She later joined the breakaway Dance Theater of St. Maarten, founded this year by former Motiance teacher Susha Hein.

Antoine was supposed to star as "Rosie" in Dance Theater's upcoming summer production of the musical "Fame," scheduled for next week. She also enjoyed Carnival, revelling in parades with Carol Tackling's Bacchanal Productions' Troupe.

Witnesses told police they had seen a "white, small vehicle" with three occupants speeding behind Antoine's Swift. Acting on that tip, police held St. Maarten-born G. and seized a white Hyundai Getz with licence plate number R-829.

Police are still trying to determine whether to rule the crash an accident or to pursue possible criminal charges. "This investigation is still in its early stages and there is much more to be done in this case," police spokesman Inspector Ricardo Henson said in a press statement Monday.

Police offered their condolences to Antoine's family and friends.