Car crash death toll involving Patrick Street friends increases

Dead is Leonardo Lindsay of Patrick Street, Old Harbour.

Lindsay, 21, has been in a coma in the hospital’s intensive care unit after suffering serious injuries in the March 23 accident which claimed the lives of childhood friends Odane Lawrence and Marquino Watson, both 24 years old.

• Childhood friends from Old Harbour die together in motor vehicle crash

Watson and Lindsay are cousins.

Doctors have been working feverishly to save the life of Lindsay who was transferred from Spanish Town Hospital to Kingston Public Hospital where the chances of keeping him alive were greater.

Despite their efforts however, he succumbed yesterday, plunging the family and the entire community into mourning yet again.

Lindsay, popularly called ‘Leo’, was among a crew of six young men – all from Patrick Street – who were returning home from a party in McCook Pen when tragedy struck about 2:00 am.

Watson, who was the driver, slammed into a tree after he failed to negotiate a corner. Watson and Lawrence, who was seated at the front, died on the spot, while Lindsay and the others were admitted in hospital. With the sad news of Lindsay’s passing, three remain hospitalised with broken bones. However, their condition isn’t life-threatening.

“Leo is known in the community as someone who is reserved. You could say he was somewhat of a sheltered child. He is a past student of Glenmuir High School. He’s well mannered, meaning he is not someone who is going to pass you and not tell you good morning or good evening to anyone. He’s a very soft-spoken young man, who really doesn’t speak much,” said Obryan Leighton, community member and People’s National Party (PNP) councillor candidate for the Old Harbour Central Division.

Many were shocked when they learned that the quiet Linsday was at the party and involved in the accident.

“We don’t know him as a party person. He doesn’t really go out. It’s from home to school or just home hanging with his family mostly,” Leighton added. “The most interaction Leo had with the community was at the football field… where he will socialise with others.”

With the country noting a spike in motor vehicle fatalities on the road, particularly since the discontinuation of the Disaster Risk Management Act, Leighton is appealing to motorists to be more responsible.

“I’m really disheartened and making also a plea to our motorists to be careful on the road as best as we can and please don’t contribute to the loss of lives through any reckless means by any stretch of the imagination,” he said. “I personally don’t want to experience what the community of Patrick Street is experiencing now again. Accidents do happen but I’m urging motorists to be more responsible as best we can so that we can save more lives as we go along.”

The young politician disclosed that April 1 a candle light vigil will be held in memory of Watson and Lawrence, while on April 3 the community will band together in a show of respect to all the deceased at the commencing of its football tournament.

“I trust that as a community we will pull together and to ensure that we support the families as best as we can which is critical as they go through this phase,” said Leighton, while pledging his personal support to the bereaved families.