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Organisers rebuff Vernamfield safety concerns

Required permits were granted, says mayor, as probe continues

Published:Tuesday | July 19, 2022 | 12:15 AMOlivia Brown/Gleaner Writer
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The spot where a car ran into spectators lining the track at a drag-racing meet at the Vernamfield Aerodrome in Clarendon on Sunday. Four persons were taken to hospital for treatment following the mishap. One woman has since died.
Nathaniel Stewart/Photographer
The spot where a car ran into spectators lining the track at a drag-racing meet at the Vernamfield Aerodrome in Clarendon on Sunday. Four persons were taken to hospital for treatment following the mishap. One woman has since died.
Lance Robinson, community development officer at the Clarendon branch of the Social Development Commission, believes that putting the spectators at an elevated level to the track could reduce safety risk at the location.
Nathaniel Stewart/Photographer
Lance Robinson, community development officer at the Clarendon branch of the Social Development Commission, believes that putting the spectators at an elevated level to the track could reduce safety risk at the location.
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As investigations into Sunday’s deadly accident at the Vernamfield Aerodrome in Clarendon continue, residents of Gimme-Mi-Bit and surrounding communities have expressed concern over what they believe to be lax safety measures when racing events are staged at the venue.

During the Drag Rivals event hosted by Ken.T Racing on Sunday, the driver of a Toyota Supra motor car lost control of the vehicle and it ploughed into a crowd of spectators about 3:45 p.m.

The driver and four other persons were injured and taken to hospital, where 25-year-old Ashley Findlay-Forbes, a personal assistant of Spring Grove district in Porus, Manchester, succumbed to her injuries.

The status of the other persons remained unclear up to late yesterday evening.

On Monday, skid marks, shattered glass and bloodstains bore testament to the horror.

“If proper barrier did di deh, certain accident wouldn’t happen,” suggested a resident of the area.

But describing the incident as unfortunate, the organisers of the race meet, Ken.T Racing, have said that they took all necessary steps to ensure the safety of participants and racing fans.

They added that all relevant permits were secured for hosting the event, a claim confirmed by May Pen Mayor Winston Maragh.

“They got all approval from my investigations – the police, the fire department, the health department – and they gave certain conditions which they had to adhere to, which they did, from my understanding,” Maragh told The Gleaner.

However, concerns have been swirling about whether it was prudent to press ahead with the event after the track was reportedly discovered to have been smeared with oil by unknown persons on Saturday in what some persons have theorised to be an act of sabotage.

Maragh said he was aware of the allegation.

“I heard the oil was spilled on the track from the Saturday and the fire truck was down there trying to remove it, but something happened there, and the police are investigating,” the mayor said.

Lance Robinson, a community development officer with the Social Development Commission, said that while the event provides a needed economic boost for the community, there should be improved emergency and safety protocols.

“The terrain is too flat. Having events like this, you need to have the spectators above the surface,” Robinson suggested in an interview with The Gleaner at the aerodrome.

olivia.brown@gleanerjm.com