Sixty-year-old Samuel Louis, who was last week recorded as the island’s second traffic fatality, is now being called Grand Bahama’s first fatality for the year.
A statement released by traffic police over the weekend said that following the postmortem report on the remains of the late James Alexander Roberts, his death is no longer being classified as a traffic fatality. The cause of death was diagnosed as a massive heart attack.
Reports are that shortly after three o’clock on New Year’s morning, Christina Bevins of Coral Gardens was driving her 1994, black Mitsubishi Galant north along Coral Road, in the vicinity of Bahama Reef Boulevard, when she was side-swiped by a dark green and grey 1995 Toyota Windom that was being driven in the opposite direction by Mr. Roberts.
The out-of-control Toyota reportedly skidded off the road, knocking down a stop sign at the intersection and hurtled across Bahama Reef Boulevard crashing through a chain link fence, ultimately ending up in the canal some 250 feet away.
Police say that Roberts’ vehicle was discovered upside down at the bottom of the 20-feet-deep canal with his body inside.
A wrecker assisted in retrieving the badly damaged vehicle from the water. Mr. Roberts’ body was transported to the Rand Memorial Hospital, where it was officially pronounced dead on arrival.
Superintendent Emrick Seymour, officer in charge of the Eastern Division, headed the investigation at the scene.
He said that officials awaiting an autopsy to determine what exactly caused this traffic tragedy.
After assessing the findings of the pathologist, police from Traffic Division determined that Mr. Louis’ death be recorded as the island’s first traffic death for 2006.
Mr. Louis, who was struck down by a motor vehicle some weeks ago, was listed as the island’s second traffic fatality when he succumbed to injuries last week.
Reports state that the accident occurred sometime around 11:30 p.m. on Monday, January 2, 2006 on East Atlantic Drive near Bruce Avenue involving a green, 1998 Chevy Cavalier driven by Philip Moxey, 25, and pedestrian Mr. Louis.
Mr. Louis, who received serious injuries, was rushed to the Rand Memorial Hospital, where he was detained for several days in critical condition before being airlifted to Nassau on January 10.
Traffic police reflecting on the record-breaking number of traffic fatalities last year, released a statement stressing the need for motorists to obey traffic laws, especially in the wake of this latest traffic death.
According to reports, there were an estimated 900-plus car accidents last year and of that number nearly half resulted in serious injuries and 22 deaths.
Reasons for the accidents cited by police include carelessness, driving under the influence, falling asleep and speed.
By ANGELO ARMBRISTER, Freeport News Reporter
