Two men are dead, two are in a critical condition in the hospital, and two more are at home recovering after a deadly one car accident Saturday evening on the Boom Road. 5 minutes earlier, the men had left Bermudian Landing enroute to Double Head Cabbage to pick up a guitar. They never made it as 5 minutes later as they veered on a curve, the Isuzu Rodeo they were in flipped. Keith Swift has the story.
Keith SwiftReporting,
This badly disfigured frame of an SUV with all the windows shattered and the
wheels dislodged is what remains of the Isuzu Rodeo 6 men were traveling on the Boom Road on Saturday evening. Just outside of Bermudian Landing the vehicle reportedly flipped a number of times killing two friends, 35-year-old George Lewis Sr. and 50-year-old Bernard Sutherland. George's sister Bernadine Lewis was one of the first family members on the scene.
Bernadine Lewis, George Lewis Sr.'s Sister
"I went out there to comfort my boyfriend, to see his cousin out there, not knowing that I would have gone out there to see my family members out there and to pick up my brother from out there, it was real hard for me. Out there it wasn't what anybody would like to see. The rodeo was four wheels in the air, not even four wheels 'caus one of the wheels had broken off and it was up on a tree. My brother landed just about a yard away or so away from where the vehicle was."
4 of the six passengers, the two deceased along with Doyle Young and Wilhelm white were flung from the vehicle. The driver Fallet Flowers and 18-year-old Brian Dina who was cramped in the cargo area of the Rodeo remained in the vehicle. The driver survived only barely, he has a dislocated disc and cannot move. He however spoke to his family.
Bernadine Lewis,
"What he said is that there was an obstruction on the road, I won't comment on what it was cause I didn't really get what was the obstruction was but he said he swerved and when he swerved one of the wheels broke off and that's when
the vehicle flipped like 11 to 12 times and during that time I guess that's when the guys got thrown out of the vehicle. He said he was driving like 60 to 65 (mph) which is a bit over the limit."
Keith Swift,
Was the driver or any of the passengers drinking?
Bernadine Lewis,
"Well yes they were. They weren't drunk or anything like that but I know that they had a few."
Keith Swift,
Do you personally that maybe that had something to do with the accident? Maybe that impaired his decision making?
Bernadine Lewis,
"No I don't think so because he is a careful driver."
Bernadine Flowers says all six were in Bermudian Landing for a cricket game. It was at that game that the two friends, Bernard Sutherland and George Lewis Sr. were reunited after 5 years.
Bernadine Flowers,
"I went to see the cricket game and my brother, they said that they were going to see the game. They went to Lemonal first and then they came back and see the game. My brother met Mr. Sutherland, they hugged each other, and said they hadn't seen each other for 5 years and they said that they were going to catch some iguana. They saw four; they didn't catch any of them, and Mr. Sutherland was singing for them in the vehicle while they were going and they were going to get a guitar. But they were all happy, talking together, and going while that happened."
And that is how Hortence Sutherland will remember her husband of 30 years, Bernard who was killed. The news was a shock to the mother of 6.
Hortence Sutherland, Bernard's Wife
"I neva know that he was at the game because he didn't leave to go to the game. He went to work across at my son's house and then they call out and said definitely it is Bernard that got in an accident and he died. He liked to play around with people and his guitar and that's most people got to know him, through playing guitar at Roy Joseph house."
Keith Swift,
So it was his guitar they were going to pick up?
Hortence Sutherland,
"Yes he was going to be the one to play the guitar. He plays country music, he loved to play country."
And it is in remembering the good times that these families hope to get over this bad time.
Bernadine Flowers,
"Accidents happen we can't blame anyone. We are not blaming anybody because accidents do happen and that's one of the things right now because we are trying to console my brother-in-law in because he says doesn't know how he will face us, the family of my brother, his wife, his kids, and the Sutherland family. We are trying to tell him that he needs to focus on getting better and we will be there for him 100% and we don't blame him for any anything because you can't cheat destiny."
Hortence Sutherland,
"I don't blame anyone. I just leave it up to the good Lord because he knows why."
Post mortems were conducted on the two deceased today. The driver 30-year-old Fallet Flowers is in the Medical Associates Hospital with what his family describe as a fractured spinal disc. 23-year-old Wilhelm White, who is a semi-pro football player with Kulture Yabra, is hospitalized in the KHMH and underwent surgery today for his injuries. 18-year-old Brian Dina who was in the back of the rodeo is back at home and when 7NEWS visited him today declined comment. The 6th occupant 24-year-old Doyle Young has also been released from the hospital. Police say their investigations continue.
