The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A 52-year-old Jamaican man was crushed to death at a Grand Bahama junkyard after becoming trapped between a vehicle and a car-crushing machine, with relatives finding his body after a day-long search when they could not reach him.

Police have not publicly identified the victim, but The Tribune has learned he was Leon Taylor, an employee at a FOCOL-operated service station.

Taylor was found unresponsive shortly after 9pm on Sunday at the rear of Kent Motors Ltd on Queen’s Highway.

Police said Taylor was known to frequent the business to obtain mechanical parts and was reportedly given permission on Saturday to enter the premises to retrieve electrical parts. However, Kent Motors owner Dave Atkinson told The Tribune he had not authorised Taylor to be on the property on Saturday night, when the business was closed to the public.

Taylor’s cousin, Falan Jean-Jacques, said relatives became concerned after they were unable to contact him.

She said family members checked his home and workplace before going to Kent Motors, where they found his vehicle parked outside. A relative had seen and spoken to Taylor at the business on Saturday afternoon, she said.

The family then contacted Mr Atkinson, who joined the search.

Ms Jean-Jacques said relatives eventually found Taylor trapped between a Honda vehicle and the crushing equipment and called police.

Superintendent Nicholas Johnson, officer in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, said: “With the assistance of a heavy equipment, the vehicles were moved, and EMS quickly jumped into action and rendered medical assistance to the male.”

He said emergency medical personnel examined Taylor but found no signs of life.

Supt Johnson said Taylor had last been seen sometime on Saturday afternoon and relatives became concerned after they could no longer locate him.

Mr Atkinson said he was contacted shortly after 8pm on Sunday while leaving church by people searching for Taylor.

He went to the business and joined them.

Mr Atkinson said several vehicles were found with their doors and hoods open, giving the appearance that someone had been looking for parts.

The group later came across the tailgate of a Honda Fit before discovering Taylor trapped between a vehicle and a piece of crushing equipment.

Mr Atkinson said he had known Taylor for some time but denied permitting him to be on the property that night. “I had no communications with him for him to be in the yard,” Mr Atkinson said.

He said the business is closed on Sundays and he would not give anyone permission to enter the yard at night while the premises were unattended.

Ms Jean-Jacques said, however, that Taylor had a longstanding relationship with the Atkinson family and regularly obtained vehicle parts from the business and paid for them later.

“Yes, the owner and we are family friends,” she said. “Mr Atkinson of Kent Motors and we are family friends.”

She said Taylor would get car parts from the business, settle payment later and also provide parts to the Atkinson family.

Mr Atkinson separately said the property has had a longstanding problem with people entering after hours without permission.

“From time to time we have that kind of situation,” he said, “that has been kind of ongoing over the years.”

He said people seeking scrap metal and vehicle parts have entered the premises and removed copper wiring, catalytic converters and other components from vehicles in the junkyard.

Police have not alleged that Taylor was involved in any theft or that his death was connected to previous incidents of unauthorised entry.

Ms Jean-Jacques described her cousin as hard-working, easy-going and dependable. “He was hard-working, easy-going all the time,” she said. “He was a sweetheart. Always there when you need him.”

She said Taylor was industrious, helpful and easy to be around.

His death comes only months after he travelled to Jamaica for his mother’s funeral, she said.

Ms Jean-Jacques said the family was struggling to comprehend the sudden loss.

“It’s still unreal,” she said. “You never expect a loved one to go like that.”

She said Taylor’s siblings in the United States, London and Jamaica have been informed of his death.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.