Police search for hit-and-run driver

Police are on the hunt for the driver of a white Nissan Navara, who slammed into cyclist, Aaron Thomas, yesterday morning.

Earlier, sources told Newsday the dented van was found abandoned in La Horquetta, shortly after the driver hit the cyclist.

Newsday understands Thomas was riding along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway yesterday morning along with his group, the Madonna Wheeler’s Cycling club, at around 7 am. Thomas had gotten ahead of his group and was waiting on the shoulder of the highway to catch up, when the driver of a Nissan Navarra slammed into him.

Witnesses said the driver tried to overtake another car when he swerved onto the shoulder, ploughed into Thomas and sped off.

According to Michael Phillps, whose riding group came across the scene with his group of riders moments after it happened, Thomas died instantly.

“We had two doctors on our ride, so they immediately tried to render assistance,” Phillips said.

But by the time they got there it was too late. One of the doctors who tried to help, Rodney Benjamin, said even while he was administering CPR, Thomas was unresponsive.

This is the second accident to occur on a highway within a month. On November 10, two cyclists of the Slipstream Cycling Club, Joe Brown and Joanna Banks, were riding on the Beetham Highway, when a driver experienced a blow out and swerved to the side of the road, hitting the two drivers. They also died at the scene.

“This year cycling has been faced with many tragedies,” Phillips said. “It is a really sobering type of thing. Vehicle and road fatalities have been coming down but for this year, particularly in cycling, it has been a very bad year and the majority of the accidents, if not all of them, could have been prevented.

“We have got to get proper use of the road with regard to drivers’ behaviours on the road. Drivers are killing themselves in cars, they are killing other people in cars, they killing pedestrians and they are killing cyclists in cars. It cannot be that everyone else has to change their attitudes to suit drivers.”

Phillips told Newsday he received information that over 5,000 violations are committed per month at the traffic lights near Hyatt Regency Hotel on Wrightson Road alone. Phillips said drivers should be more aware on the road.

“There can be genuine accidents, but what we have seen in terms of carelessness... people need to understand that it is a 2,000 pound projectile they are driving. They need to drive more defensively and be more aware.” Phillips said.

Along with extending condolences to Thomas’ family, Arrive Alive president Sharon Inglefield appealed to relevant authorities to take action against errant drivers.

“We appeal to the Transport Commissioner, that upon examination of CCTV footage and eye witness evidence, to please suspend the drivers permits of these reckless drivers who continue to make poor choices and to cause the needless loss of lives. We also appeal to our leaders to abolish preliminary enquiries in our Magistrate Court for clear-cut criminal cases. Justice delayed is justice denied! 100 lives lost to date on our nation’s roads is unacceptable,” Inglefield said.

“Drivers please be tolerant, plan your day ahead.

“Take into consideration peek hours, the traffic, so you have enough time to travel to your destination in a safe manner obeying the rules of the road.”

She also indicated that on Friday night, Omatee Boodoo, a 46-year-old woman, was killed in a hit-and-run incident in Freeport, at about 8 pm.

Thomas’ relatives expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and support they received since the incident this morning, but said they wished to mourn in private and asked the public to respect their wishes for the moment.

Newsday made attempts to call Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan, but calls to his phone went to voicemail.