Racing team mourns 'humble Rondel'

Motorcyclist Rondel Jagessar, 20, would have spent today with friends down the islands off the north west peninsula. Instead, his friends gathered at his family’s home at Bel Air Drive, La Romaine and remembered him as a humble and caring young man who had a passion for racing.

Jagessar was an electrical student at the National Energy Skills Centre, Ste Madeleine and had had founded Humble Racing Team about two years ago. He was the youngest on the team of 30 members.

“He was the best. He was really a humble person and had a collection of motorbikes. He turned 20 on November 28 and died on December 28. About 500 people went down at the scene of the accident and those were people who knew him personally and not maccos,” said Cleveland Ashby.

Ashby was a close friend and is a member of Humble Racing Team based in Claxton Bay.

Police said shortly before 9 pm, on Friday, a 19-year-old man was driving a car north on SS Erin Road, Debe, near Dumfries Road. Jagessar was proceeding in the opposite direction on his motorbike and there was a collision with the car. Jagessar died at the scene. Southern Division police responded and administered a breathalyser test on the driver which read zero. They interviewed the driver and allowed him to leave.

Jagessar was on his way to meet a friend in Debe and his death pushed the road fatality figure to 109.

Showing some of Jagessar’s trophies and miniature motorbikes and cars, Ashby said: “He loved to collect items. He was good to all of us. He competed in racing competitions in other Caribbean countries and here at Wallerfield. Rondel also loved photography and took outstanding photos.”

Jagessar, last year, placed second in Grenada International Drag Racing and Open Class Shootout competition. He also had trophies from Kato's Ranch and Off-Road Track and other competitions.

Cpl Rampersad of the San Fernando Police Station is investigating.

Jagessar is the latest of five cyclists killed in accidents over the past month.

On November 10, Joanna Banks, 40, a manager at BP, and Joe Brown, an executive chef at Jaffa at the Oval, died after a car ploughed into a group of cyclists on the Beetham Highway. They were members of the Slipstream Cycling Club. Several other cyclists were injured.

On December 8, cyclist Aaron Thomas, a member of the Madonna Wheelers Club in Arima, was killed in a hit and run accident at Wallerfield.

Last Friday Jimmy Edwards, 53, of Mayaro died when his motorcycle crashed on Naparima Mayaro Road at Mile End Village, Rio Claro.

On Wednesday, Boxing Day, Frankie Ramcharan, 64, who lived at St Johns Road, Piparo, was struck by a car while riding his bicycle at Torrib Trace, New Grant.

Among recent roads fatalities were PC Heston Davidson, Dr Rajeev Bahall and Sheldon Ali who died in car accidents.