The Tribune

By Morgan Adderley

Tribune Staff Reporter

madderley@tribunemedia.net

A traffic accident in Eleuthera on Tuesday evenging has left an adult woman dead.

According to police, the incident occurred shortly before 6pm when the victim lost control of her vehicle.

“A woman was driving a silver Chevrolet Cobalt car on Queen’s Highway, south of the settlement of Upper Bouge, when she lost control of the vehicle and crashed into bushes before overturning,” police reported.

The victim was the sole occupant of the car. Paramedics were called to the scene and attempted to revive her, but they unfortunately were unsuccessful.

Chief Superintendent Stephen Adderley, officer-in-charge of the Eleuthera Division, confirmed the victim to be Gazel Petty, 29.

According to reports, she was also known as “Cherry”.

This is the 23rd traffic fatality for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

The country’s previous traffic fatality was a visiting pastor from the United States, Bishop Darryl Coleman.

The pastor, a backseat driver, was described as a “hero” after he grabbed the car’s steering wheel and tried to avoid tragedy when the car’s driver experienced a “seizure,” according to Bishop Larick Kemp, a long-time friend.

On Monday, Transport Minister Frankie Campbell spoke about the number of traffic fatalities for the year, a figure he has previously called “frightening”.

“We have 22 fatalities and some 26 homicides,” he said Monday. “Fatalities are keeping pace with homicides, we’ve got to do something about this.”

Mr Campbell noted the issue of road safety was particularly poignant for him as he was hit by a car in his youth while crossing the street carelessly.

Last month, the Ministry of Transport and Local Government launched a junior road safety programme for fourth and fifth graders from all public primary schools in New Providence.

On Monday, a pair of students from 12 schools across New Providence were inducted as junior road safety officers.

Mr Campbell said the initiative focuses on children because they are “influential” persons in the household.

“They’re the ones who determine where we shop, and what we buy, so I believe they too can influence parents as to their behaviour on the street,” he said.

“They have enthusiastically accepted the challenge and I am optimistic that their participation in this whole process will make a difference.” 

He added: “I want to ensure, to the extent that we all can, that what happened to me as a youngster don’t happen to our dear loved ones.”s