Tobago Correspondent
Police officers and road traffic safety stakeholders are urging drivers to take their time on the roadway.
This after an accident claimed the lives of two victims in Tobago yesterday, the second time in as many days that a vehicular smash-up had claimed the lives of more than one victim.
Chilling screams pierced the Sunday morning silence in Bacolet, Tobago, following a road accident that claimed the lives of two coworkers.
Keyon “Sprang” Nimblett and Shakka Rivers, both from Signal Hill, were said to be “like brothers” and never went anywhere without each other.
Police said the men, employees of REM Elite construction company, were heading to a job site in Pembroke around 10.15 am when the accident happened.
According to reports, Nimblett was driving his blue Mitsubishi Lancer east along the Claude Noel Highway when he swerved to avoid a collision with another vehicle. Police said the Lancer hit a utility pole, went airborne and then crashed into an immortelle tree, killing both men instantly.
It was the second accident resulting in multiple deaths in two days.
On Saturday, artiste Marques “Rasta Marky” Figaro, 38, and former national Under-17 footballer Tyrek James, 27, both of Marabella, died within minutes of a crash along the Southern Main Road in St Margaret’s.
As news spread about yesterday’s crash, scores of friends and family of the deceased arrived at the scene to confirm their worst fears.
“Where Sprang? Where Sprang?” a neighbour and close friend of Rivers shouted repeatedly as relatives rushed to console her.
Tears flowed freely from the eyes of Rivas’ brother Dwight Davidson, who stood in disbelief, shaking uncontrollably as he held a cigarette in his hand. He said Rivas was a father of one and devoted to his only daughter, who is preparing to write her CSEC examination.
An emotional Nigel Taitt, electoral representative for Signal Hill/Patience Hill, said the tragedy had hit deeper than politics.
“This goes beyond area representative because Shakka is my close cousin and Sprang is my very close friend. Right now, I am emotionally hurt because I wasn’t expecting to get this news,” Taitt said at the scene.
Taitt said both were “very good men and helpful in their community.”
REM Elite owner Rondell Morris said the accident had left him shaken, as he spoke to both men prior to the accident.
“I came off the phone like half hour before, making sure they got the materials to go up on the job site,” he said.
Morris said he knew both men for over a decade but they only started working for him approximately four years ago.
Friends of the duo said both were skilled mechanics, hard workers and never in any trouble.
Double blow to Rivas’ family
Rivas’ uncle Williams Thomas broke down in tears as he spoke glowingly about his nephew.
“He never give me a disrespect. He always there to help out anybody in any form or fashion. He will give you his last dollar if you asked. If I call on him to do something for me he never turned me down even though he had things to do,” he said.
He said the tragedy was a double blow to the family, as Rivers’ mother Antonette Thomas died in October last year after kidney failure.
Thomas said it was a mystery to the family when they found out Thomas had only one kidney when she fell ill last year. He said relatives later learnt that Rivers, whose twin sister died at childbirth, was the recipient of his mother’s other organ.
“He had sickle cell and she donated one of her kidneys to him. She donated one of her kidneys to him and nobody knew. That was a secret and we only heard about it when she had kidney failure,” Thomas said.
Thomas said the family’s only consolation was that his nephew and best friend died together.
“It so sad to know that young people just dying. I don’t know if speed was the factor, overtaking was the factor. At least he died with his friend.”
Traffic cop: Slow down
Cpl Carva Vincent, who is in charge of the Traffic Branch, Tobago, yesterday pleaded with drivers in Tobago to slow down.
“Based on what we are seeing here, is that speed was paramount in this accident,” Vincent said.
However, he said there were other people with information about the accident who had declined to talk to the police.
“I am continuously imploring drivers, Tobago is a small space, there is no need for speed….This morning two persons died because of speed. Take your time, you will reach where you have to go.”
He advised the public to leave earlier if they have to reach their destination at a particular time.
“Look, you have persons (in pain). Their families are mourning right now with the death of these young individuals. Take your time, please.”
