The Christmas holidays were marred by a traffic fatality in Grand Bahama, bringing the number of traffic deaths on the island to 22 for the year, and to 69 in the country.
Police said Freeport resident Archelous Thompson, 60, a longtime security officer at the Woodbourne Estates Resort on South Mall Drive, was knocked down while walking along East Sunrise Highway, around 9:10p.m. Christmas Day.
Mr. Thompson was reportedly hit by a blue 2002 Kia mini-van, driven by Patrick Sturrup, 48, of Nelson Road.
Mr. Sturrup was accompanied by his 13-year-old daughter, Precell, said police.
Mr. Sturrup told police that while driving about 45 miles per hour in the rain, in the vicinity of Ariel Place, a man suddenly appeared in front of his vehicle.
Police said it was then that Mr. Sturrup swerved the vehicle, hoping to avoid the pedestrian, but was unable to, as “he was too close.”
Emergency Medicals Services personnel and the police were reportedly dispatched to the scene.
Mr. Thompson was rushed to the trauma section of the Rand Memorial Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police said despite the mini-van being badly damaged, Mr. Sturrup and his daughter were unharmed.
By: Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
