Motorcyclist succumbs to injuries following accident

Annetha Thomas wishes her son had paid heed to her fear of him riding motorcycles.

“I tried to tell Shane to get away from riding that bike. I tell him to get off because he got damaged recently. I just never liked the idea of him riding,” a distraught Thomas told SEARCHLIGHT two days after her son lost his life.{{more}}

This country recorded its fourth fatal road accident and 10th road fatality sometime after 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, when 26-year-old Richland Park resident Shane Thomas died at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a Toyota Noah van, at the junction of Tyrell Street and North River Road.

According to the Public Relations Department of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), The van, PR 916, is owned by Bay Hill Apartments and was driven by Kevin Bailey of Sion Hill. The motorcycle, PV 152 is owned by Mauricio Woods of Calliaqua.

Reports are that the motorcycle was travelling from Tyrell Street towards Grenville Street, while the Toyota Noah, travelling in the opposite direction, was attempting to turn right into North River Road when the collision took place.

The driver of the van sustained no visible injuries, but Thomas was pronounced dead at 10:51 p.m.

Recalling the night of the accident, Thomas said she was awakened by a telephone call from a friend.

“The person asked me if I am okay and the person said they would call me back, because they were going to ask me something,” Thomas said, adding that she suspected something was not right. “The person called back again and told me she wanted a telephone number for a friend. I said to myself that this just isn’t sounding right, so I got back on to the person and that is when I was told that Shane got into an accident.”

At that time, Thomas said she was not aware of the nature or seriousness of her son’s injuries, so she began packing clothes and other items to take to the hospital.

However, while making her way to the hospital, Thomas received the tragic news that her last child had succumbed to his injuries.

“I am really trying to cope. I have to pray about this and live my life pleasing to God…,” Thomas said, adding that her tears did not begin flowing until the day following the accident.

The mother of nine described her son as a loving individual, who always sported a smile.

“He just used to live good with everybody. He was just that kind of person,” she said of her son.

According to a eyewitness to the accident, when the vehicles collided, the deceased was sent airborne. “He even hit the electrical wires up top and dropped on the concrete. I feel it for him,” the eyewitness said.

Last Saturday’s fatal accident was not the first time that the Thomas family has experienced tragedy.

On October 8, 2007, Thomas’ first daughter, Ava Grant-Mornix, 42, of Richland Park, was murdered as she was leaving her home to take her five-year-old son to school.

“So yes, I lost the two of them. I lost my first and now I lose my last,” Thomas said.

Before his death, Thomas was part of a group of bikers called the “1 Up Family,” who have described their fallen member as a hero.

Darron Kennedy, a member of the group, told SEARCHLIGHT that they will do everything to keep the memory of their brother alive.

“He died on National Heroes Day, so he is a hero. He loved riding with a passion and he was basically everybody’s right hand man. He was just a people person,” Kennedy said.

A candlelight vigil was held at the scene of the accident on Sunday night, in honour of Shane.

Another member of the 1 Up Family, Colville ‘Shady’ Layne, told SEARCHLIGHT that members of the group were in the process of making plans to go to a biking event in St Lucia at Easter.

“We were planning the trip, but now all of that is dashed aside. Shane was a vibrant, charismatic and jovial person. We have to send him home in grand style,” Layne said.

A post mortem will be done today to ascertain the cause of death.

Investigations are continuing.(KW)