A family is in shock following a fatal collision at Mount Standfast, St James, on Wednesday afternoon.
Eighteen-year-old Josiah Carmichael of Browne’s Gap, Jackson, St Michael, died at the scene after the vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a two-vehicle collision along Garden Road around 1:40 p.m.
Police Communications Officer, acting Inspector Ryan Brathwaite, said officers at the Holetown Police Station are conducting investigations.
“Police at Holetown station are conducting investigations into a fatal collision, which occurred about 1:40 p.m. along the Garden Road, St James,” Inspector Brathwaite said. “This collision involved two vehicles. Our preliminary investigations have shown that both vehicles were travelling from Speightstown heading towards Holetown. Then they were involved in a collision. As a result of that collision, the passenger in one of the vehicles succumbed to injuries at the scene. Now, investigations are currently ongoing. Our forensic team is on the scene carrying out the necessary investigations, which would help to determine the cause of this accident.”
Josiah’s mother, Natalie Carmichael, described her son as a kind, helpful and promising young man — her “backbone.”
“Josiah was the first of five children. My firstborn, Josiah was a very helpful young man, I must say. We had ups and downs, you know, as any other son and mother would go through…but Josiah was a very helpful and promising individual. Josiah had a whole future ahead of him. Josiah was my backbone, trust me. There’s nobody in the neighbourhood that could come and tell you something bad about Josiah.”
Josiah Joshua Carmichael at his secondary school graduation
She spoke about his commitment to helping other, “Josiah can be laying down now and anybody can call Josiah and ask Josiah to come and do a favour. It ain’t gonna be money related — he gone get up and come and do it,” she said.
She recalled her final moments with him before he left home on Wednesday morning. She explained that the driver of the vehicle was coming to pick him up when he asked her advice on whether he should sit at the back or the front. She said she advised him to sit up front for his safety. “I felt a lot more comfortable than him being on the back of the truck. But I didn’t know that this is my last seeing my child — hearing from my getting up for a call like this. I really can’t… it’s hard,” she said tearfully.
Inspector Brathwaite urged motorists to be more cautious on the roads.
“We want to encourage all road users to remain safe. Drive thinking about the other person along the roadway — it’s called defensive driving. You must stay alert, comply with all traffic signs, comply with the speed limit along the roadways. Remember when you’re overtaken, you’re overtaken at your own risk; you must make sure that the road is clear to proceed safely before doing that. Drive to stay alive. Let’s play our part and be good drivers on the streets of Barbados,” Brathwaite said.
He appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact the Holetown Police Station at 419-1700 or 419-1701.
Investigations are continuing.
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