Dereca Campbell’s dreams of becoming a nurse and pastor were shattered in a horrific traffic crash in Trelawny last Thursday afternoon, that claimed her life. Fifteen-year-old Dareca, also called Rosie, straight ‘A’ student at York Castle High School, gave lessons to slow students in her community of Duanvale, Trelawny where she was also an active church member.Family members and residents in the Duanvale community are mourning but at the same time celebrating the life of the teen, otherwise called ‘Rosie’, who died, while on her way home from school in a traffic collision on the Retreat Main Road in Trelawny on Thursday, September 18.
Campbell, hailed as a role model among her peers, was among a group of students travelling west in a Toyota Hiace bus, from Brown’s Town, St Ann when it collided with a trailer travelling in the opposite direction. Campbell was pronounced dead at hospital while four other students, also from York Castle were admitted with several fractures. Their condition was not critical. Others were treated and released.
MOURNING
It is reported that the teen was sitting at a window seat in the bus, when the trailer hit it while negotiating a corner. Witnesses say Dereca was sitting with her head down, when the trailer hit the bus on her side, splitting her stomach wide open. The Brown’s Town police say the drivers will be warned for prosecution and will likely be charged. Witnesses told the Times that both vehicles were speeding when the tail of the trailer hit the bus.
When the Times visited the community, family, friends and other relatives were mourning but mainly highlighting the impact young Dereca had made on their lives. Residents say she filled their lives with smiles and encouragement, even though she was just a teenager. “She was a rose to us, always smiling, mannerable and not like your average teenager,” said Nadia, a cousin.
YOUNGEST
Dereca who was an honours student at York Castle High, boasting an ‘A’ average since first form (grade 7), was an active member of the church and she tutored children in the community who were not performing well in school.Residents flooded Dereca’s home to lend support to her mother Sharmane Williston, who was devastated by the loss of her last child, of four. “She was always the youngest. The youngest in the family, her class and in church but she was special,” her mother said. The honours student was a youth leader at the Faith Tabernacle Apostolic Church in Duanvale, a member of the choir and a 4-H club member at York Castle.The family could not help but speak about Dereca’s brilliance, which they said kept her above the rest with her grades at school. “She is always reading and writing. She studies hard, from Sunday to Sunday and she never hung out with friends. She said Jesus was her best friend,” her mother said. Some residents said Dereca loved children and provided tutoring for students in the community who were not performing well academically. “She helped my son with his school work and helped him to do better,” a community member shouted. Everyone who gathered at the home spoke at every chance about Dereca, who several adults said they emulated. “Honestly, mi a big woman and mi look up to Rosie,” another woman said.The family said even though they have lost an ‘angel’ in the community, they find comfort knowing that she was a teen who dedicated her life to the Lord. “God only takes his best and I know Rosie is in heaven”, said her mother , who is also a Christian. Dereca’s dream was to become a nurse and a pastor. Ahead of her final year, she was set to sit four (4) subjects — Chemistry, Physics, English and Mathematics — in the upcoming 2014/2015 CXC exams. “Her goal was to sit and pass 13 subjects upon her completion at York Castle because she wanted to be the best in her batch,” her mother said.Meanwhile, counselling sessions were held at the school on Friday, September 19 for students. Principal of York Castle High, Raymond Treasure said grief counselling was held for two hours to help the students cope with the news of Dereca’s death. Denise Riley, Dereca’s form teacher at York Castle High said Dereca was jovial, always smiling and performed well at school. “Our class is not coping well, the students were all crying because they were very close to Dereca,” Ms Riley said.
