William Knibb High mourns 16-year-old accident victim
Published:Friday | December 13, 2024 | 6:18 AMLeon Jackson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Tears flowed at the William Knibb Memorial High School in Martha Brae, Trelawny, on Thursday morning as staff and students grappled with the news of the passing of 16-year-old grade 11 student Rodrique Frank.
Rodrique, who was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident on Sunday, succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
“It is sad time for the entire school family, especially the grade 11 students, who were supposed to be sitting an [end-of-term] examination this morning,” said the sportsmaster Kavarly Arnold. “We are trying our best to comfort the students, but I can tell you, we are grieving as a school family.”
Rodrique, a resident of Deeside, which sits on the Trelawny-St James border, was reportedly on his way home from an event in the community when he lost control of his motorcycle, resulting in a crash. Passersby discovered him along the roadway and took him to the hospital.
“He was placed in intensive care, where he was being assisted to breathe with an oxygen tank. However, he passed away at about 9:45 p.m. [Wednesday] night,” said Rodrique’s uncle Owen Watson.
When The Gleaner visited the family home, Rodrique’s mother, Trishan Shaw, who flew in from Canada to be by his side, was inconsolable.
At the school, Principal Linvern Wright was visibly shaken and deferred to Vice Principal Audrey Steele to speak with The Gleaner.
“The students are so devastated. They are crying … . Social studies examination, which was scheduled for this morning, has had to be postponed,” Steele said after composing herself.
Tamiann Palmer, Rodrique’s grade nine former teacher, who had been taking a keen interest in his development, said he was a gifted student with a lot of promise.
“I have followed him all through his years at William Knibb. He was a good academic student with a bright future in front of him,” said Palmer. “He was a very disciplined child and apart from his love for the girls, he gave no trouble.”
The Trelawny police are investigating the accident.