Heartache for cop as son among 9 family members killed in Palm Beach crash

A father has been laden with guilt over the death of his 14 year-old son, who was killed along with eight other relatives in a car accident in Palm Beach County, Florida in the United States (US) on Monday.

District Constable Michael Hall said he travelled with his son, Michael Hall Jr, to visit his relatives in the US for the first time, and planned a summer filled with adventures. But those plans were tragically cut short.

A sombre Hall told The Gleaner that he and his son left Jamaica for Connecticut on July 11 to visit relatives. The younger Hall was very excited to spend the summer holidays with his cousins who he would be meeting for the first time.

The excited duo even documented the entire journey from their home in Ocean View, East Kingston to the airport, in photos and videos.

Soon after they arrived in Connecticut, Hall said he sent his son with some cousins to spend time with his aunt in Florida. The aunt had also invited her other nieces and nephews from Ohio and New Jersey to spend part of the summer holidays with her.

The tragic accident occurred when they were on their way to the airport to travel back to Connecticut.

US media reported that the vehicle in which the family was travelling got out of control, drove off the road, slammed into a guardrail and then flipped over, landing in a canal. Hall Jr was among four who were pronounced dead at the scene while six others were taken to hospital. Only one of the injured, 21 year-old Jordan Hall, survived.

“It really hurt mi to know that I take him from Jamaica saying that I want happiness and good for him, so I really went and get him visa make him travel to the US for the first time to experience it, and to know that I really came here with him and him to lose his life,” the distraught father said.

Other victims

The other victims were identified as eight year-old Imani Andre Ajani Hall, two year-old Naleia Tucker, five year-old Yasire Smith, 30 year-old Leiana Alyse Hall, 21 year-old Anyia Monique Lee Tucker, five year-old Kamdien Edwards, three year-old Ziaire Mack, and the driver, 56 year-old Pamela Wiggins.

“Right now, the only person that make it out of the accident right now, they have under suicide watch right now. He’s blaming himself because he’s saying ‘I’m sorry, I couldn’t save them, although I try’,” Hall shared.

“It hurt mi heart when him (Jordan) seh to mi seh, when mi tek him (Hall Jr) out and ting, it was too late for him,” he added.

Yesterday, Hall was home in Connecticut trying to comfort his own father through his grief, even as he shared his concern for one of his brothers who also lost his son in the accident.

“Him cya be by himself. Him nah function, him nah focus,” he said.

Sharing that the tragic accident has ripped into his close-knit family, Hall said he is struggling to come to terms with the grief of losing so many relatives at the same time.

Hall described his son, who was the eldest of two children and a student at the Dunoon Park Technical High School, as quiet. He had aspirations of becoming a computer engineer.

“He’s not one a dem weh yuh hear seh a fight, yuh nuh hear seh him a get himself inna trouble. Him have few friends dem weh him talk about or talk to … . When he comes home he will play with his little brother and, if he’s not doing that, he’s on his tablet or he’s on his cellphone playing games,” he said.

Sharing that he and his son shared a very close relationship, and he would often express his concerns about the dangers of his father’s profession, “We talk a lot, him will call and check up on me. Sometime mi deh work, him wi call mi and seh ‘Daddy, wah gwaan’? Or him will hear tings and seh ‘Daddy, mi hear something or mi hear gunshot or mi hear dis … which part yuh deh’?” he said.

The district constable said he was grateful for the support from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), which he said has been helping him and his family to deal with this traumatic loss.

“I’m not there to give my wife comfort, but she has been getting the support from the Chaplain Department. They are there supporting her at this time, since I’m not there,” he said.

While expressing condolences to the family, Superintendent Tommie-Lee Chambers, commanding officer for the Kingston Eastern police, reinforced the JCF’s willingness to offer any assistance necessary to help Hall and his family through this period.

“We have a chaplain for the area starting to communicate with family members who are back here in Jamaica and, going forward, the necessary support that is needed. And also my chaplain from Area Four is communicating with persons overseas so that the necessary counselling would be provided for District Constable Hall,” she said.

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com