The Tribune

By LETRE SWEETING

THE death of 30-year-old Shaquille Williams in a traffic accident on Saturday was a shock to relatives who are now grieving over a life cut short.

Police said the victim, a resident of Imperial Park, was travelling north on Golf Course Boulevard at around 8.40pm when he lost control of a white 2008 Ford Explorer and crashed into a utility pole.

He was taken to the hospital by Emergency Medical Services where he later died of his injuries.

Gilbert Williams, Shaquille’s father, told The Tribune in an interview that his son had to be cut from the vehicle to be taken to the hospital.

He recalled that he drove right past the scene on his way home, not knowing his son was involved in the accident at Charles Saunders Highway and Seabreeze Lane.

At home, he eventually saw a message from his son’s cousin asking him to return a call immediately.

Mr Williams said that by the time he got in touch with his son’s cousin, his son had already been removed from the car and carried to the hospital where he later died of his injuries.

“He lives with his mother,” Mr Williams said. “He had gotten home after work around 6pm and shortly after that he went out again. He was going around the corner to get something and he was coming right back. I don’t know much about the accident except that he crashed into a wall and a utility pole.”

After officially identifying his son’s body Monday morning, Mr Williams, who is the national director at Special Olympics Bahamas, said though his son was very athletic as a former national soccer player and track team member, he never took chances on the road and was a defensive driver, only having ever been in one small fender bender several years ago.

“The last time he was in an accident it was the other person’s fault, but no one had gotten hurt,” he said.

He added that this accident came as a shock.

He said: “It was totally unexpected. This was definitely a blow for us all.”

Shaquille was always respectful and never caused any trouble to those around him, Mr Williams said.

“I’ve never had any trouble like that with him. He was very mannerly. Everybody talks about how respectful he was. And that’s what he was.”