Accident in which motorcyclist Kentius Herman aka More Fire was killed on Oct. 30, 2013 in Etangs, Soufriere.
Acting Sergeant Foster Chicot of the Castries Traffic Department is concerned about the number of accidents involving motorcycles.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Chicot said while his department has “embarked on a series of campaigns in order to educate the drivers of motorcycles” officers have a zero tolerance on motorcycle riders who do not abide by the laws of the roads.
“… You can well imagine that the deaths on motorcycles also involve pillion riders who don’t wear helmets,” he said.
Chicot noted the Nov. 23, 2013 accident on the Micoud Highway in which both the motorcycle driver Alvin “Scam” Flavius of Anse Ger, Desruisseaux, and the pillion rider 20-year-old Dillan “Ti Blow” Barthelmy of Ti Rocher, Micoud, were killed after a collision with a SUV.
Chicot said Flavius and Barthelmy were not wearing helmets at the time of the accident.
Below are motorcycle fatalities and accidents reported by St. Lucia News Online over the past two years (please note that many more motorcycle accidents occurred during this period):
July 7, 2012: A black motorcycle driven by 23-year-old Francis Giraudy, also known as Junior of Corinth, Gros Islet, collided with a pick up van about 1 pm at Rodney Bay, Gros Islet. Giraudy was admitted in critical condition.
Sept. 7, 2012: A Kawaski 1000 motorcycle, driven by 26-year-old Jeff Rene of La Croix Maingot, ran off the road at La Croix Maingot about 7:30 pm. Rene succumbed to his injuries on Sept. 8, 2012 at Victoria Hospital.
Dec. 9, 2012: 30-year-old Bertrum Paul of Bagatelle, Castries, the driver of a black dirt bike, was pronounced dead on arrival at Victoria Hospital, and the pillion rider 18-year-old Melvin Shervon Gustave, also of Bagatelle, admitted in critical condition after the motorcycle ran into a parked truck in Gesneau, Babonneau about 3:30 am. The men were reportedly travelling in the direction of Castries and the truck was on the left side of the road.
Feb. 16, 2013: Sherwin ‘Poleman’ Maynard of Caye Mange, Gros Islet died after his black motorcycle collided with a white Toyota Mark II motor car about 7 pm on the Gros Islet Highway, near the Aquatic Centre.
March 20, 2013: Motorcycle pillion rider Calvin Joseph succumbed to injuries after a collision with a motor vehicle on March 16 in Marisule, Gros Islet. The driver of the motorcycle sustained injuries.
April 7, 2013: Aaron “Ti Carrot” Mahy of Vieux Fort was seriously injured after his motorcycle crashed on the Vieux Fort/Laborie Highway.
April 26, 2013: Motorcyclist Sage Charlemagne of Corinth, Gros Islet sustained a broken arm after an accident on Bridge Street, Castries, in front the ECFH/Bank of Saint Lucia (BOSL) building.
April 27, 2013: A motorcyclist sustained serious injuries after colliding with a bus on the highway, near the Marisule/Corinth junction.
May 30, 2013: A motorcyclist was injured after his bike collided with a vehicle on Water Works Road in Castries.
Oct. 30, 2013: Motorcyclist Kentius Herman, 39, also known as More Fire, of Delcer, Choiseul succumbed to injuries sustained in a collision with a minibus about 10:30 at Etangs, Soufriere.
Nov. 3, 2013: 32-year-old Sheffield Joseph of Babonneau and his pillion rider, 19-year-old Joella Fanus of Micoud, died after the motorcycle collided with a car along the Bois D’Orange road about 9:30 p.m.
Nov. 23, 2013: 23-year-old Alvin “Scam” Flavius of Anse Ger, Desruisseaux, who was the driver of a red and black motorcycle, and pillion rider, 20-year-old Dillan “Ti Blow” Barthelomy of Ti Rocher, Micoud, died following a collision with a white SUV along the Micoud Highway.
Dec. 26, 2013: 21-year-old Marlon Houson died in the wee hours of Thursday, Dec. 26 after being in intensive care for almost a week. Houson was reportedly collided with a bicycle with two young males about 2 pm on Dec. 21 on an agricultural feeder road in the Bexon/Deglos area.
Jan. 7, 2014: 33-year-old motorcyclist Sursam James, better known as Sieto, of La Pointe, Dennery, succumbed in hospital to injuries sustained in an accident on Jan. 3, 2014 on High Street, Dennery. His motorcycle reportedly collided with two vehicles (including a parked car) about 1 am.
Jan. 20, 2014: Ambrose Rithal, 80, of Derniere Riviere, Dennery died after he was struck by a motorcycle about 6:50 a.m. on the Derniere Riviere road. Rithal was reportedly hit while crossing the road.