For the past 18 years, senior citizens and children in Bounty Hall looked forward to a treat on New Year’s Eve, put on by community activist, Romeal Wilson, a red cap porter.

But the annual treat is in jeopardy this year in the wake of an accident which claimed the life of the 55-year-old Wilson, also called ‘Sixteen,’ who was mowed down by a motorcycle on the road across from his house where a wake for his mother was in high gear, Thursday night.

Carlton Lynch, a clergyman who resides in community, declared that Wilson’s death will leave a void in the community which will be an uphill task to fill.

“We in the community of Bounty Hall, knew Romeal as a community person, he is sadly missed. He was one who looked out for the elderly and young people when it comes to holidays, back- to- school, Christmas….. he always ensured that there is some level of gifts for the children going back to school and so this is something that the community looked forward to every year,” a seemingly saddened Lynch told the Jamaica Observer West.

“And so losing a community person like that who is also an entrepreneur, it is really sad to know that he has gone in that tragic manner. Presently the community is in grief, the community is mourning because there is a void that is left open that we don’t know who will be able to fill such.”

Photographer Paul Holder, another community member, is also among those grieving Wilson’s tragic end.

“I was the one who usually video and photograph his treat every year. The children really, really looked forward to treat every year,” Holder stressed.

Wilson’s distraught children, who were all in attendance at the wake for their grandmother, are still trying to come to terms with their father’s sudden death.

A distressed Rameka, who noted that her father was passionate about hosting his yearly treat, recounted that the lively wake was brought to a prompt halt immediately after tragic incident.

“I heard the bike coming down the road and then I heard it hit something. Initially, I thought it was the rider who fell from the bike,” she bemoaned.

Both Rameka and her sister Roshika, described their father as “frank, jovial, loves to attend party and wakes and loves his children.”

Members of the Montego Bay Red Cap Porters Association were out in their numbers at the wake for Wilson’s mother, who was laid to rest last Saturday.

President of the Montego Bay Red Cap Porters Association Hopeton Burnett, recounted that Wilson, who was busy playing the accommodating host to his colleagues and other community members, went across the street from his home to fetch an item. On his way back he was hit down in road by a motorcycle which came “from out of the blue.”

“It is so tragic, especially the fact that we were just talking together and he just left to pick up something. He went across the road and I only heard a thud and when I look I saw the person lying in the road, but I thought it was the bikeman, mi never know it was Romeal, is when mi hear say a Romeal…right now me still shake up,” Burnett bemoaned.

“My pressure went up from regular to 153 over 91. So I could have died as well.”

He explained that: “It was our night: whenever any family member of a red cap die, we sponsor the wake one night.”

Another red cap porter, a distraught Cedric “Wires” Graham, was also jolted by Wilson’s sudden passing.

“Most of us were there supporting him in his time of bereavement and he was moving to and fro for to get things for us when tragedy struck,” Graham told the Observer West.

“All of us feel it. He was a good, good man. We all went to support him because most porter were there everybody was there, he kept moving trying to make everybody comfortable and that is when the tragedy struck.”

Wilson’s children recounted that their dad was very busy assisting the scores of persons who had turned out for the wake when he met his demise.

Both the biker and Wilson were taken to hospital where Wilson succumbed to his injuries and the biker admitted.

Personnel from the Trelawny Police Traffic Department who are investigating the accident told the Observer West yesterday that the driver of the bike has since been released from hospital.

It is not clear if he has been arrested.