WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – The grieving relatives of 33-year-old farmer Semion Bryan have rejected the police’s preliminary account of how he died. Convinced that Bryan was not at fault, they want the police to take another look at the crash that claimed his life.

According to police reports, after swerving from the left to the right side of the road in order to avoid a puddle, Bryan lost control of the motorcycle and ended up in the driver’s door of an incoming vehicle. The incident occurred on Tuesday night in Whitehouse.

However Stephanie Bryan-Rowe said she has heard a different story that suggested her brother was not at fault. Bryan’s niece Monique Gooden is among those calling for a thorough investigation.

“A nuff time bike boy in a accident and nothing nuh come out a it, but mi nah guh rest pan deh one yah suh easy,” shouted an angry Gooden.

Inspector in charge of traffic for the Westmoreland Division, Gregory Hall told OBSERVER ONLINE investigations are on-going. 

“Whatever report that was generated by the police is as a result of the preliminary investigation,” he explained. He is also encouraging family members to assist the police with any eyewitness statements they can obtain.

“One of the difficulties we have with fatal incidents is that no one wants to get involved,” explained Hall.

He empathised with the grieving family.

“It is an emotional time and I understand. Everybody wants closure and everybody wants all the information to be fleshed out. That is what we are doing,” he reassured.

As of June 23, the country had recorded 225 fatal crashes. Westmoreland has the highest number of fatal crashes, at 29. Since the start of the year, 80 motorcyclists have been killed; 15 of them were from Westmoreland.

Kimberley Peddie