It’s with a saddened heart and overwhelming grief that I write to your news portal today.
Since the accident on Friars Hill Road last Friday, I’ve been mourning my friend, Brenton Bristol, and the pain feels heavier with each passing day. It still doesn’t feel real. One moment, he was here with us, full of life, warmth, and plans for the future, and in an instant, he was taken away.
Brenton was not just another name in a headline. He was a friend who made ordinary days brighter. He was the person you could count on for a smile, a helping hand, or a good laugh when you needed it most. Losing him so suddenly has left those of us who loved him struggling to understand how such a vibrant soul could be gone because of an animal wandering onto the road.
As I grieve, my sorrow is tangled with frustration, because this is not the first life lost on our roads under similar circumstances. How many more friends, brothers, mothers, and fathers must we bury before something changes? How many more families must receive that devastating phone call? Every time I pass a stretch of road where animals roam freely, I wonder whose life might be next.
Brenton deserved better. We all do. Roads should not be death traps where drivers must choose between swerving into danger or crashing into animals they had no chance to avoid. This tragedy raises a painful but necessary question: how many more people will have to die before we take meaningful action to prevent these accidents?
I write this letter not only in memory of my friend, but in hope, hope that his death will not be another statistic, hope that the authorities and our community will finally address the dangers that have been ignored for too long. No one should have to mourn a loved one in this way again.
Grieving,
Javorne Moore
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Let’s be realistic, animals on our roads are a perennial thing. Animals are forced to cross the roads in search of food, water and even looking for mates and this usually places them in the part of speeding vehicles. Many of our roads are dark and if we only keep our speed in check, it would give us a better chance of stopping or trying to avoid crashing into them. Animal owners knows the liability involved if they were to own up when an animal is involved in a crash, especially deadly crashes so no one would claim the animal. It is really left up to the drivers to drive with commonsense and caution knowing fully well that there is always a likelihood of animals in the road, especially our dark or poorly lit rural roads.
With that said I hope the family of the deceased encourage the police not to bring any charges against the driver.
While im sorry for your loss, your frustrations are misguided. The blame lies solely on the driver who was speeding and who didn’t respect the fact that he’s responsible for another life.. If the driver aas driving responsibly they could habe stopped in time or even swerve away. Blame the driver!!
For someone that does drive at a high speed and live close to the road fast or not with the poor lighting on the roads u can barely see the animal whether it be as small as a dog and it only appears when you are to close within range….
Friars hill road is one of the very common roads where animals roam freely esp at night.
Dear Javonne.
I feel your pain. I contemplate with empathy the way it feels to lose a dear friend. While I never knew Brenton Bristol, I grieve his passing through you, his family and all who loved him and continue to carry him in your hearts.
When I think about the fact that livestock roaming the roads was a contributor to his untimely passing, I understand and appreciate your advocacy for better animal care and control by the livestock owners. Consistent responsible action on their part is truly needed not only to save lives but to prevent needless crashes on the road.
At the same time, permit me to hitch my wagon to your cause and allow me to advocate to all drivers to use the roads with due care and caution. While accidents can occur when we drive within the posted speed limits, it is less likely for motorists to die as a result of accidents when we adhere to the rules of the road. I’m of the humble opinion that where there are livestock on the roads and it results in an accident with a speeding motorist, the result is often a deadly collision. That is not good.
So, in tribute to Brenton, I urge his friends and family and all drivers to become more road conscious and cautious. Let us use the roads with care for our very lives. I make this solemn promise to you that I will remember and honour Brenton ans his legacy in the way I drive. Promise me that you will honour him in the same way too.
DenVau
My condolences to the family but we need to be cautious and observe the speed limit.
Why Jevorn never told the driver to drive responsibly? Would you accept it if the police bring charges against the driver for dangerous driving?
This would be the true test as to where you think blame ought to go.
Stop grieving. Some people pay for their deeds in different ways. Maybe Jevorn has paid for his that way.
The same time our drivers realize is not dem alone on d road it hve other people an animals
So sorry to hear about this young man’s death, but some of these drivers think driving at high speeds qualify them as being great drivers, they are so misguided. Sometimes I find myself wondering if they leave home just to cause carnage on our roads
WHAT THE HELL…! …MOST INTERESTING: …BLAMING ANIMALS FOR DANGEROUS DRIVERS
***
STRETCH OF ROAD…???
‘…Every time I pass a ‘…STRETCH OF ROAD’ where ‘…ANIMALS ROAM FREELY,’ I wonder whose life will be next’ [Paragraph 4].
***
Some darn thing must be enticing on these ‘…STRETCHES OF ROAD.’
Surely, it could not only be just the: ‘…FREELY ROAMING ANIMALS.’
***
WHAT OF THE OTHERS…?
From professional investigative experience, have seen ‘…INNUMERABLE CRASHES:
***
(a) ‘…MOTOR VEHICLES MOWING DOWN PEDESTRIANS:
(b) …MOTOR VEHICLES OVER BANKINGS/PRECIPICES:
(b)…IN ROADSIDE CULVERTS: GUTTERS AND DRAINS:
(c) … IN ROADSIDE PONDS (Sir George H.Walter Highway):
(d) …ON BEACHES LIKENED TO SEA TURTLES TO ‘LAY’ PASSENGERS/DRIVERS:
(e) …IN THE SEA (Crabb Hill):
(f) …INTO TREES:
(g) …INTO BRIDGES:
(h) …INTO BUILDINGS:
(i) …INTO ROADSIDE UTILITY POLES:
(j) …INTO CEMETERIES:
(k) …IN SUGARCANE FIELDS:
(l) …IN ROADSIDE FARMS:
(m) …IN PARKED/MOVING MOTOR VEHICLES.’
***
NEVER HEARD ANYONE BLAMING THESE FOR ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS.
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ALWAYS SOME ‘…DUMB ANIMAL:
(i) ‘…HORSE:
(ii) …CATTLE:
(iii) …JACK AND JENNY ASSES: and
(iv) …ROAD HOGS (SOME DRIVERS).
***
WHAT THE HELL…!
***
WATCH YOUR DRIVING:
ALWAYS DANGER AT LOW SPEED
***
…AVOID:
(a) ‘…SWERVING AT HIGH SPEED:
(b) …DEATH AT HIGH SPEED: and
(c) …CRASHING AT HIGH SPEED.’
[Paragraph. 5].
***
DRIVER AND HOG:
WHICH…?
(i) ‘…A DRIVER: or
(ii) …A HOG…?
***
There are two critical points that were made- the suddenly loss of a love one and the tremendous amount of pain. We hear people die in accidents all the time and unless it hits home we don’t really feel the pain. Someone dies tragically and you cannot even put a face to it, we can pass by the accident scene and go merrily along. This is the world we live in today.
Secondly the writers call for accountability by Animals owners and our government to light up our highways. In Antigua something definitely needs to be done about the stray animals. Animals that have owners should be branded or marketed. There are no cows and horses in Antigua that are not owned and these owners should be held accountable. I do understand that an animal might break loose but that doesn’t mitigate the fact that they have owners that should not just be letting them roam freely.
I think that the ministry of agriculture should play a role in addressing these issues. The worst issue with the Animals are the alarming amount of wild donkeys and still increasing every breeding season , particularly in the eastern side of the island. These donkeys are a danger to motorists, and we must also remember that our highest GDP earner is the tourist sometimes in the rental cars. They are also destructive to the agriculture sector. They are completely destroying crops such as sweet potatoes, literally eating pumpkins and butternut and uprooting crops like carrots etc. I have heard of farmers loosing their entire crops/ this is a great economic loss to both our hard working farmers and food security.
These animals also are a nuisance at nights. They throw down water drums with water, and garbage. They destroy flowers gardens. They rub in people’s Vechicles. So shouldn’t we look towards the government to do something about this. So often I see them with broken legs, suffering from collusions with Vechicle.
So yes we need to drive more careful.and operate within the speed limits. The traffic department / transport board can be engaged in placing safety signs , drive carefully. Wild animals ahead.
Should have been taking his damn time, Binie as well smh two young lives lost…
Dear Javon, your expression of grief is heartfelt. It’s natural to look for reasons or patterns, but right now what matters most is that you’re hurting and you deserve support. I concur with Audley and others; the animal situation is generational and a part of Antigua’s culture and climate. That will never change. What has to change is vigilance in driving. Find peace, amidst your grief, Javon.
As usual everyone quick to place the blame anywhere but where it belongs. Why can’t people here accept responsibility for their actions. The man dead because of the drivers speeding and reckless driving. It is time people here accept the consequences of their actions.
Dear Letter Writer
can you please indicate if you will be willing to sign a petition asking for the police to NOT bring any charges against the driver for causing death by dangerous driving?
I feel and hear your grief. Yet still, I did not read of any responsibility placed at the feet of the driver. From all reports they were under tremendous speed .
To this maelstrom, add the poorly lit roads.
Let’s put everything in its place.
1. Drivers must exercise due care and attention while behind any mechanical device.
2. APUA needs to expedite the road lighting program as announced.
3. Animal owners should be more responsible with their animals. They don’t follow the rules of road use. So you the owner must ensure they don’t become “death traps “ on our roads.
4. If the animals are feral, Ministry of Agriculture may have to engage in either culling to manage the numbers and or explore other humane ways to deal with this.
I suggest that you channel your grief into something positive. You will help others not to be in this position as you are now
You will find animals blocking roads worldwide.
Sensible drivers engage their brakes.
What to do when you see animals on the road:
1: Put your hazard lights on to notify other drivers.
2: Engage your brakes to slow down or perform an emergency stop (apply common sense).
3: Wait for the animals to cross.
4: If the animals are stubborn, beep your horn or drive forward very slowly and they will usually move on.
5: Once safe to do so, drive past the animals very slowly.
We share this world with animals. Everyone should drive with care, patience, and consideration for others (animals included).
Antigua has a lot of reckless, dangerous, and stupid drivers.
A country of Antigua’s size should NOT have frequent road traffic accidents.
Why are people driving at excessive speeds?
It is like walking the streets in your neighborhood with a vicious dog live on it—-you walk with caution. Antigua is a small Caribbean that is well known to have stray animals roaming the streets especially at nights—so drive with caution to avoid serious accidents that can lead to death.
If you thief the animal the owner will come forward but when there are accidents involving animals they mute
It’s time for fines that actually mean something. Lives are worth more than excuses.
If the government cannot control livestock on public roads, then the public is not safe. Simple as that.
I’ve seen animals on the road nearly every day. It’s not just sad, it’s dangerous. We need solutions, not excuses.
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