Mother in Barbados visiting son who survived fatal car crash

Yesterday, Rose-Ann Williams of Chateaubelair travelled to Barbados to be with her son Kemelius Boyea, one of two survivors of a motor vehicle crash in which four people died last Sunday.

The accident took place in Barbados, where 21-year-old Boyea had just completed a six-week attachment at the Crane Resort in St Phillip.

Williams told SEARCHLIGHT that sometime after 4 a.m. last Sunday she received a telephone call from her son, who told her he had been in an accident and was at the hospital.

Hearing that, Williams said it seemed as if her whole world had gone blank, as she did not know the condition of her son.

“I called my nephew who lives in Barbados and he went to visit him, along with my aunt and after hearing from them, I just couldn’t stop crying,” said the mother of three.

Kemelius was one of five students from the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC) who were returning from a farewell staff party at the Sugar Ultra Lounge in St Lawrence Gap, just hours before they were to return to SVG.

Killed in the two-vehicle collision were driver of the vehicle, 23-year-old Andre Gittens, an employee of the Crane Resort and his three female passengers 17-year-old Danee Horne, 18-year-old Carianne Padmore and 19-year-old Aziza Dennie, all students of the SVGCC.

Kemelius and 18-year-old Darren Daniel of Campden Park, also a student of the SVGCC, and passengers in the ill-fated car, were the only two survivors.

Kemelius suffered a bruised kidney and injury to his lungs and had to be placed on oxygen. He was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon; however, he is unable to travel and will remain in Barbados for the time being. Daniel was released from hospital earlier this week.

Williams said that Kemelius is not only her son, but her best friend and advisor. “He is so smart and I am really proud of him. I rely on him for so many things that I don’t know what I would do without him,” she added.

She stated that she is praying for her son’s recovery and said she feels the pains of the other families involved in the tragedy.

She will return to St Vincent and the Grenadines on February 13.

Kemelius turned 21 last Saturday and had been looking forward to coming home to celebrate with his friends.

Shenlyn Woods, a secretary from Plan Village, Chateaubelair, told SEARCHLIGHT that she had bought a cake for Kemelius, who has been her friend for more than 12 years. They had been planning to spend time together on Sunday when he returned home.

“It was really tough to deal with, as I had just lost my cousin Onixcy a month ago and when I told Kem he couldn’t believe and vowed that he would never ride in a vehicle that was excessively speeding,” Woods said.

She said Kemelius told her that he was asleep when the accident occurred, so he was unaware of what had happened until he woke up in the hospital.

Woods described Kemelius as a true friend.

“He is creative, funny and loyal, I pray for his total recovery and my prayers also go out for the other families affected by this tragedy,” she said.

Kemelius is a graduate of the Petit Bordel Secondary School (PBSS). He is quite popular in his community and many are conveying support to his family.

Two other SVGCC students, Jyan Cato and Rolisha Roberts, who were in a separate vehicle, were unharmed. They returned to St Vincent and the Grenadines on Sunday.