Dad distraught after Westmoreland cop killed in collision with cow

WESTERN BUREAU:

Some residents in Westmoreland are being accused of taking depravity to another level Sunday night, when they reportedly chose to strip the carcass of a cow involved in an accident that killed a policeman, rather than offering help to get the lawman to hospital.

The 21-year-old policeman, Constable Tajay Ebanks, attached to the traffic department at the Savanna-la-Mar Police Station in the parish, died at hospital after sustaining injuries to his chest and head.

The accident happened approximately 9:00 p.m., while Ebanks was heading towards Savanna-la-Mar from Negril.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police in charge of operations, Adrian Hamilton, the policeman was driving his service motorcycle along the New Hope main road, heading in an easterly direction towards Little London, when a cow came out from the embankment into his path.

Ebanks, who was thrown from his motorcycle, had just completed duties in Negril, and was on his way home. Reports are that, while laying incapacitated, people were seen cutting up the legs, head, and other parts of the dead cow. A video seen by The Gleaner showed a man with two dogs cutting parts of the dead animal. Other people were heard in the background talking about what sections of the cow were available for consumption.

This was the third accident between Friday and Sunday caused by unprotected animals roaming the streets near Little London.

Eyewitnesses told The Gleaner that it has become the norm for owners to leave their animals unattended.

“It was inevitable that this was going to happen, because they just leggo the cow them wantonly. They travel all over the place and you have to close up your gates so they don’t destroy your crops or your flowers,” said a man who watched the policeman laying lifeless.

He described the situation as gross negligence, and disregard for the lives of others.

“When I saw him I was devastated. It could have been avoided.”

Distraught by the news of his son’s death, Adolph Ebanks said his family was broken.

MEMBER OF POLICE FORCE FOR JUST 12 MONTHS

His son had only been in the police force for a mere 12 months, eight of which he was stationed in Westmoreland. He wants animals removed from the roads, as they have become a nuisance and a threat to the lives of motorists.

The younger Ebanks' death has left the Savanna-la-Mar police personnel in a somber mood, with Hamilton sharing plans to provide grief counselling for staff as well as family members.

“Constable Ebanks made an indelible mark on the lives of the people he came into contact with in the eight months he has been here.”

Both the older Ebanks and Hamilton spoke of a young man who was jovial, hardworking, and punctual.

As the news of his death spread throughout the parish, owner of Board Walk, and hotelier Richard Wallace, said the hotel industry was deeply saddened.

“It’s really sad to see he lost his life in such a tragic manner. Constable Ebanks was in Negril working on Sunday.”

Extending condolences to his family, colleagues and friends, Wallace said he understood he was a very good policeman.

He is appealing to the owners of animals to make greater effort to contain them. He also asked motorists to slow down.

When he learnt of the reports of behaviour of some of the people who decided to take the meat of the dead animal, Wallace said it goes to show the level that the society has reached.

“It is really a sad day when things like this happens.”

In the meantime, Hamilton is warning the animal owners that the police will come down on them heavily, for causing the loss of life on the streets of the parish and damage to property.

“As a police department, we are going to do something about it. These owners of these animals need to take the requisite responsibility ensuring the animals are properly protected from the roadway. We don’t want any other innocent road user to be a victim of the situation,” said Hamilton.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com