4 bikers perish in Heroes Day crash
Published:Wednesday | October 18, 2023 | 12:08 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
A HORRIFIC motor vehicle accident along the Water Works main road in Westmoreland on Monday evening claimed the lives of four young men, leaving their parents and loved ones in total shock.
The victims have been identified as Rekay McLeod, 24, and Oshaine Salmon, 17, both of Ashton district, as well as Sanja Brown, 28, and Jermaine Scott, 18, of Darliston – all in Westmoreland.
“It would be better if one of his feet was broken or that he was at the hospital unconscious,” a grieving Theresa Phillips said as she mourned her son, Brown, on Tuesday.
According to her, while the accident victims, which included her son, were badly crushed, she was able to identify Brown, who she described as jovial and playful.
“When I went down there last night (Monday), I could not hold my composure,” said Phillips, who works as a porter at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital.
“They never want me to go and look, but I had to see him for the last time,” she said, recalling the graphic accident scene.
Phillips told The Gleaner that she last spoke to her son on the day before the accident when he promised her that he would be home soon after she had enquired about a leash for her dog.
“He told me later, and up to now, he has not reached home. Later has not come,” a dejected Phillips said.
According to the police report, about 6 p.m. on Monday, the four men were travelling on three motorcycles along a section of the Water Works main road. They reportedly failed to keep left and crashed into a truck.
The three motorcycle drivers – Brown, Scott and McLeod – were later pronounced dead at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital.
Salmon, who was a pillion, died on Tuesday.
Patrick McLeod was consumed by grief when The Gleaner caught up with him in eastern Westmoreland on Tuesday.
As relatives consoled him, he said that the untimely death of his 24-year-old son Rekay, who he described as a peacemaker, as a nightmare.
“Rekay was the perfect son that any father would want to have. He was very helpful, and I could call him and tell him to do anything, and he would do it without asking questions,” the cattle farmer told The Gleaner.
“My son loves me and I show him love, but now he is gone,” he added before the tears he held at bay gave way and the force of grief sank in.
Up to Tuesday, Westmoreland had recorded 46 of the 324 road fatalities this year. Motorcyclists account for one-third (108) of the total road deaths.