NEGRIL, Westmoreland — Two women were among four people killed in a bizarre, two-motorcycle collision on the Sheffield main road here on Wednesday night.
Another woman, who was a pillion passenger on one of the motorcycles, has been hospitalised in critical but stable condition.
The deceased, all of Westmoreland addresses, have been identified as: 31-year-old photographer, Everton Spence of Sheffield district; 32-year-old selector, Ryan Robinson, also called DJ Force Ripe; 21-year-old Shakira Hawthorne, and 20-year-old Khadine Campbell, all of Whitehall in Negril.
According to the police, about 9:00 pm a Honda 600 motorcycle, which was being driven by Robinson, was travelling along the road when it collided with a Prestani CG150 motorcycle driven by Spence, that was travelling in the opposite direction.
It is reported that Spence, who was travelling home from work, was in the process of turning into his yard when the collision occurred.
Spence and his female pillion passenger, as well as Robinson and his two pillion passengers — Hawthorne and Campbell — spilled from the motorcycles and sustained multiple injuries.
The five were taken to hospital where Spence, Robinson, Hawthorne, and Campbell were pronounced dead, and the other female admitted.
The deaths of the four individuals bring to 144 the number of people who have died on the nation’s roads since the start of the year, which is three fewer than the 147 recorded for the corresponding period last year.
Commanding officer for the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF’s) Traffic and Highway Patrol Division, Senior Superintendent Calvin Allen, used yesterday to urge road users to exercise more caution.
“We are really encouraging our road users — drivers of motorcycles, drivers of other vehicles, pedestrians — to take greater heed as you use the various corridors,” SSP Allen said.
He lamented that up to Wednesday night the parish of Westmoreland, which over the years has recorded a number of fatal motorcycle crashes, saw some improvements in road fatalities this year.
“Westmoreland has been on the improve since the start of 2018, and so this one has affected this good run that they have been having,” the head of the police traffic division bemoaned.
On a visit to the Whitehall community yesterday, residents consistently stated that Campbell and Hawthorne were inseparable.
“They are always together. They are best friends,” one female resident told the Observer.
It was also a mournful atmosphere at Robinson’s home yesterday, where several grief-stricken individuals gathered.
His distraught mother, Ann Marie Nichol, could not hold back the tears as she muttered words that were barely audible.
“Me son kind, loving, always do the best he can for all of them,” Nichol, who had to be supported, said.
In the meantime, Robinson’s distraught brother Galian Phillips described the selector, who died leaving nine children, as “very fun-loving”.
“Everybody loves him. He participates in everything in the community, he helps people in every way he can,” Phillips said, adding that his brother was very supportive of his children.
