Over the weekend, a tragic freak accident left cycling fans without a race to watch, and the cycling community reeling from an unthinkable tragedy. It happened on Sunday between mile 41 and 42 on the George Price highway when 48-year-old Edison "Vintage" Usher and 41-year-old Kadeem Banks, died after succumbing to injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident near Cotton Tree.
Today the cops said that the motorcycle on which they were travelling exploded, but it seems more likely that it had a serious mechanical failure, started smoking and then careened off the highway, into a ditch - where the riders experienced a massive, fatal impact.
Whatever happened, it's a terrible loss for their families and the cycling community - one that leaves a void in the hearts and minds of their loved ones as well as in their roles as commentators for the biggest race of the year. Cherisse Halsall reports.
Sunday's female cross country cycling race went dark in a tragic turn of events on Sunday when it was learned that the live streamers Edison "Vintage" Usher and Kadeem Banks, had died in a motorcycle accident near Cotton Tree.
Dion Leslie, Vice-President, Cycling Association of Belize
"When we first got the call a little bit after 7 we were told that it was an explosion. That was the initial reports, but I am no forensic expert, but after seeing the pictures of the motorbike, there is no real signs of any explosion or any collision. Its looks like something mechanical happened to the bike, they lost control and were flung off the bike at probably high speed and that caused them severe injuries and Mr. Banks sadly passed on the scene and Vintage passed some hours later."
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Officer
"Upon reaching between miles 41 and 42 on the George Price Highway, a loud explosion was heard. Both men were flung in the air and landed on their faces. When the officers arrived at the scene, both men were unconscious. Unfortunately, Kadeem was motionless. Both men were unconscious according to officers that arrived there. We know that they were rushed to the Western Regional Hospital where Banks was pronounced dead and a few minutes later, Mr Usher succumbed to his injuries."
Reporter:
"An explosion, or crash they crash into a culvert or something?"
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Officer
"No, after reading the report, it was sent to me, it's saying that it just exploded while they were driving the motorbike. We are waiting for the motor vehicle inspector to do his part before we can say exactly what caused that explosion."
This morning the President of the Cycling association Dion Leslie expressed his extreme regret over the loss of life of these men who he called his brothers in cycling.
Dion Leslie, Vice-President, Cycling Association of Belize
"He's been doing it for several years now, at least three or four years. He really took it upon himself to broadcast these races, he started doing it out of his own. We started working with him to get better coverage and what's not so it's something that grew substantially, for example, the last race that was the Jr. Cross country and when you look at the numbers we had about total about 75,000-80,000 people viewing the Jr Cross Country at the end, So it was something that he took pride it knowing that he wqas bringing the sport he loved to many people all over the world and giving the exposure to these cyclists who worked so hard so he was very proud of that and that made him very happy."
"He grew up in cycling of course he was always around the sport as an official he worked for us several times and then he and vintage had a good relationship and worked together well in actually bringing the livestream, so they worked together may times to bring the livestream to many races. So they have been around cycling for many years. The banks family the name is synonymous with cycling with his brother Yellow who is a mechanic, so they've been around and people know them, they are brothers in cycling, not just random strangers. So, when this happened, it took us all by surprise and the shock was surreal to every single person and I think not only in cycling but I think their families their extended families at work, the DJ's and the whole entertainment industry which Vintage was a part of. These gentlemen were in so many things so they touched a lot of people lives and it just so sad to have this happen like this."
And some more of the lives that Banks and Edison "Vintage" Usher touched were here in Belize city's Ordonez bike shop. This afternoon owner Andrew Ordonez told us that the accident really hit hard because the motorcycle in question belongs to him.
Andrew Ordonez, Bike Mechanic
"In the past me and Wilbert Banks, the brother of the driver, we use that exact bike to do livestreaming also when they are not using it, so the bike has been used more than once to do the event."
"I was numb, I was shocked, I didn't have words, it spoiled my whole day, because we do the same thing. These guys put their lives on the line to bring the excitement of the race to the fans and its a great loss for the cycling community for people in Belize and all over the world that watch the livestream. Thats how they keep in touch with the racing here in Belize, so It's a great loss."
Ordonez says that as painful as it is he will have to pick up the mantle on the live stream this easter all the while paying tribute to his fallen friends.
Andrew Ordonez, Bike Mechanic
"These two young men would love that we carry on their legacy so hopefully, I will be out there to live it for them, they are looking down at us and they are hoping that we continue doing what they loved. They die doing what they love and it's sad to say that, but I don't have words to explain how grateful we are to people like this that go out on an extra limb, you don't make any money off it, you give your time and your life. It's sad, I was put in a situation, I had an accident before doing race, I got a close call on motorcycle, but I still continue to do it for the fans and for everybody who watches the live stream."
Vintage had been a cyclist himself in his younger years while Kadeem Banks, whose brother is a bike mechanic grew up around the sport.
