The Tribune

By JADE RUSSELL

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

TWO men are dead following a traffic accident in Abaco on Friday.

According to police, shortly after 5pm on Friday Abaco officers received a report of a traffic accident involving a blue Toyota Four Runner driven by a man travelling south on Ernest Dean Highway and a Buick driven by a man accompanied by a male passenger travelling north.

Police said the Buick veered into the southern lane causing a head-on collision with the Toyota. Both drivers and the passenger were taken to the Marsh Harbour clinic with serious injuries. The male passenger was examined and pronounced dead.

Police Assistant Superintendent Stephen Rolle told The Tribune yesterday that police found out later that the driver of the Buick died of his injuries, after being flown to New Providence.

ASP Rolle said both male victims were in their late 20s or early 30s.

ASP Rolle, the press liaison officer for the Northern Bahamas and Grand Bahama, said the traffic deaths are a concern.

“The police are concerned about the number of accidents happening throughout The Bahamas, particularly Abaco where people are losing their lives. We wish to advise the public that while they traverse the streets of Abaco particularly, to drive with due care and attention and to obey all the traffic laws,” he said.

ASP Rolle said as the Christmas season is approaching, drivers should be vigilant.

“We are coming close to the Christmas season now, you will find more vehicles on the road, pedestrians, and even motorbikes. So, I want to say to those individuals who may be driving recklessly or within breach of the speed limit to be mindful of the other road users. And try to avoid any mishaps as much as possible. Like I said, we are nearing the Christmas season and we want this to be a safe Christmas for all,” he said.

The traffic fatalities in Abaco this year have heightened the call for road safety.

Earlier this month, an Abaco pastor who relatives identified as Leroy Thompson was killed in a traffic accident.

According to police, shortly after 8pm on October 9, officers at the Marsh Harbour Police Station received reports of a traffic accident in the area of Black Wood, North Abaco.

Preliminary investigations revealed a 2008 silver Honda was travelling west on SC Bootle Highway driven by an adult male and accompanied by an adult female, and a 2010 yellow Chevrolet Camaro travelling east driven by a man and accompanied by a man when both vehicles collided.

Mr Thompson, the driver of the Honda, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver and passengers were taken to the local clinic for their injuries.

In June, a teenage girl died in Abaco from a traffic accident. The accident reportedly occurred in Dundas Town shortly before 9pm.

According to police, officers at the Marsh Harbour Police Station received a report of a traffic accident that occurred in the area of Shell Gas Station on George Albury Blvd.

Initial reports said the vehicle driven by the juvenile was travelling west on George Albury Blvd at high speed. While attempting to overtake another vehicle, the driver lost control of her vehicle, which overturned.

ASP Rolle said the female driver was ejected from the vehicle. He said EMS took the victim to the Marsh Harbour Clinic, where she was seen and examined by a doctor, but later died of her injuries.

In February, a man was found dead in mangroves following a car accident in Abaco.

According to police around 7am, officers from the Marsh Harbour Police Station received a report of a traffic accident on Ernest Dean Highway.

When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered a black 2005 Honda Fit vehicle and the body of a lifeless male in the mangroves south of a local resort.

Initial investigations revealed the driver of the vehicle was travelling north down the highway when he lost control of the vehicle and veered off the eastern side of the street.

This resulted in his vehicle overturning several times off the road with him being ejected from the vehicle.