Sugar Ray Thomas
A fatal road crash caused by a horse walking into the path of a vehicle has plunged a St Ann family into mourning.
Dead is Fifty-three-year-old Delroy Haye, alias ‘Skilachi’ or ‘Binja’, a pool attendant, of West Bank, Steer Town, St. Ann.
Haye was killed Friday night, November 13, after a vehicle in which he was travelling along the Drax Hall Main Road hit a horse that walked out onto the roadway and into the path of the vehicle that was being operated as a taxi. The horse was killed by the collision and remained on the scene for nearly 24 hours more.
Haye’s family says he had been talking about getting order to the use of horses in the Mammee Bay/Drax Hall area after one of his daughters suffered serious injuries when a vehicle in which she travelled also hit a horse in the area. That was about three weeks earlier.
The family members of Delroy Haye, who are devastated by his death, are calling on the relevant authorities as well to address the situation of the horses which stray unto the roadway at times and cause potential danger to motorists.
Reports from the St. Ann’s Bay Police are that about 10:30 p.m., Haye was a passenger in a white Toyota Corolla motorcar being driven along the Drax Hall main road heading towards St. Ann’s Bay. Upon reaching a section of the road, a horse stepped into the path of the vehicle resulting in a collision. Haye was taken to hospital where he died while undergoing treatment. The other four passengers including the driver received injuries and have been admitted in hospital.
Investigations are ongoing into the collision.
A FAMILY MAN
When The Times visited the family of Delroy Haye in the community of West Bank in Steer Town, St. Ann on Saturday, November 14, tears flowed openly among family members and friends.
His mother, Pauline Haye, popularly known as ‘Miss Peggy’ could not control her grief as she described her son as a loving man, who worked as a pool attendant with various hotels and did other jobs. Most importantly, she said that he was a man who had his family at heart. “He is my second child. Ask anybody anywhere about him and dem we have nuting bad fi say bout him. He is a jovial, kind, friendly, hardworking man and him is a people person… A me second pickney, and him nah mek mi hungry. Him might nuh have enuff fi gimme, but him nah mek mi hungry. Me him live with cause him father sick and bedridden and mi tink say a himwud a bury him father,” Miss Peggy explained, breaking down at several times while speaking.
She went on to explain that she knew something was wrong when she didn’t see her some come in earlier that Saturday morning. She said that the family had initially thought it was a cousin who resembled Haye who had died, but they later found out that it was her son. “We hear dat di horse jump inna it (the car) and dem go hospital and di docta say him lungs mash up. Dem did a try fi save him cause even when him go dung there, him mek a move off but him collapse. There was nuting bad bout mi likkle bwoy, but him gone,” Miss Peggy said.
She also explained that the community is in mourning at Delroy Haye’s tragic death. He was well known throughout the wider community of Steer Town, especially because he was a good domino player and represented the community in domino matches.
HORSES MUST BE DEALT WITH
Delroy Haye had two daughters, and had many other relatives who he cared for and loved. The mother of his children, Cecille Campbell explained that one of his daughters, Trudi-Ann Haye met in a similar accident that was also caused by a horse three weeks ago. “Trudi-Ann passed through the same accident like him. A horse ran into the car same way. She got an injury to her head and received 28 stitches across her forehead. Delroy sey to me only last week dat him haffi talk to someone about di horses because him know someone who own di horses and see it deh dis week him dead… If Binja (Delroy Haye) have it, you don’t have to ask him for it. He was kind and just jovial,” Ms Campbell explained.
Ms. Campbell was adamant that the horses should be impounded until someone accepts responsibility for them, because they are causing harm to motorists. “I am so concerned about these horses and I’m calling on the government or authorities to do something about it. It better they are pound, because nobody wants to own it that it is their horse. Give dem certificate say a their horse and mek dem put dem up good and if they cause any accident then they pay a penalty,” she said.
Her sentiments were shared by Miss Peggy and the girlfriend of Delroy Haye, Erica Guy.
The horses can often to be seen in the vicinity of Mammee Bay, sometimes being used for rides by tourists and locals. They can be sometimes seen eating grass along sections of the roadway.
In the meantime, Haye’s daughters are finding the death difficult to deal with and are grieving as the other family members.
LAST CONVERSATION
Haye’s mother, Miss Peggy, recounted her last conversation she had with her son. “Yesterday morning (Friday morning) when he was going away, me say to him ‘gimmie a lunch money nuh’ and him say alright and give me $300. Him say ‘Later, Mama,’ and him say him ago collect some money.”
In the meantime, a source attached to the St. Ann’s Bay traffic police explained that investigations are ongoing into the matter. The source said it was not yet clear whether any charge would apply to the driver in the collision as investigations are in the preliminary stages.
