Man killed in road smash
(CNS): Updated 2pm — Police have now named the 52-year-old man who was killed following a road smash in the early hours of Wednesday morning on the Esterley Tibbets Highway. Richard Martin was originally from Pennsylvania, USA, but had been resident on Grand Cayman. A 31-year-old man is custody having been arrested for DUI and dangerous driving. The crash occurred at around 12:30am close to Lakeside Villas and involved a Chevrolet Blazer and a Honda Logo. The driver of the Honda Logo was pronounced dead at the scene and his passenger was taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the Chevrolet Blazer and a female passenger were also hospitalized before his arrest.
A police spokesperson said the driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving under the influence and the RCIPS accident reconstructionists have now begun an investigaiton into the details of the collision. Police confirmed that the road has now reopened.
A postmortem examination is expected to take place later today.
The sixth death to occur on the roads in Cayman this year, the smash also coincides with the start of the RCIPS’ seasonal road safety campaign, which started on Monday.
Category: Local News
Drinking and Driving is a widespread and serious problem here; and as bad as it is, there is zero interdiction effort against Drug Driving. Many countries now conduct roadside tests for a variety of substances beyond alcohol, including Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, active component of cannabis), Methylamphetamine (ice, speed, crystal, meth etc), and Methlyenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA/Ecstasy). Suspects are required to lick a pad and results appear within 5 mins. RCIPS should get with the times and technologies that are now available: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/alcoholdrugs/drugdriving/drugdrivingfaqs.html
Last time I was home I was drug and alchol tested at 8:30 in the morning.
Every car was stopped and every driver tested whether they were aged 18 or 88 it didn't matter. We need policies like this.
http://www.arrivealive.vic.gov.au/c_drugsAD.html
The problem on that road is the attitude of the drivers. The road is designed fine except for the housing complex. However most cars accidents are not associted with that location. The big problem is that the road is straight so many speed. When you get drunk you think you can do anything. I am not sure of how many deaths was related to drunk driving on that particular road but there have been a few.
The court needs to have much larger fines for drunk driving. Its the only way to cut down on the problem.
Condolences to the family of the deceased. It is so sad to see so many killed on our roads all because someone does not care how much alcohol one drinks. Please take time and think about others this Christmas holiday. There is so much more fun when one is sober and there is much more to life without alcohol.
My first cousin was killed at 19 by and drunk driver and I am horrified and crying for Mr. Martins family as I type this. Whilst there is NEVER an excuse for drunk driving, when are we going to have a divided highway in that section of road? So many people have died there and there might have been a small chance for some of them to live if an oncoming car could not come across a concrete barrier.
Perhaps this is something Mr. Dart could consider doing For Cayman?
Why not put a roundabout at the entrance of lakeside on the bypass? Firstly it would stop speeding and secondly it would allow safe access to thecomplex.
Speeding should be regulated by law enforcement – totally absent right now.
"Speed bumps", "Center lane fencing", "speed reduction"…what planet are these people on? If you can't safely navigate at 40mph down this thoroughfare, then you should probably get someone else to do the driving. Never drink and drive!
This is so sad, Look at his facebook profile. What a happy man with such a beautiful wife and child, I dont know him but this one sure hurt me.
Honestly – I am not convinced this is only a DUI issue – I think it is also an attitude issue. I have people overtake me every single morning because I drive within the speed limit. It doesn't matter if it is on Hirst Road, West Bay Road or any By-pass roads. 90% of thetime they overtake me, they still get stuck again bumper to bumper behind the other 20 or so cars who are right in front of me – yet, despite people being able to see that there is a whole row of cars ahead, they still chose to overtake one single car. Honestly, why bother?
I have said it over and over again – I dont' EVER see police on the roads anywhere. If they would be on the road in the morning and eveing rush hour traffic and consistently enforce the speed limit, I believe we all would be a lot saver.
Thats not and attitude problem. It’s a stoopud problem
Don't drink and drive. Simple.
This is sad. We all need to do our part and be our brothers keeper, drive safely, and dont let anyone drive drunk; friend or not, cause they just might hit your friends.
So sad a needless loss of life
Most of the comments seem to be about the road but what about the drink driving. When will Cayman adopt a zero tolerance why are people allowed to drink and then drive a lethal weapon.
Condolences to the family. very sad. Although I believe this happened in the very early hours of the morning, it still puts forth the argument that we need some sort of reliable, affordable public transportation at night. Not so many people would drink and drive if the taxi drivers did not charge half a days pay to get you home. Over the christmas season maybe the goverment could offer the taxis some sort of incentive per ride to make things more affordable and safer for the public. Just a thought.
That is a horrible excuse. Save the money by having one less drink and take a cab.
it would take me 4 drinks to make it hope the prices are insane here
One less drink? A cab home for some of us after 12 is 50 ci dollars. thats as much as the night out. something needs to be done. Where the taxi drivers come up with these prices i dont know. It takes me 5 hours of physical labour to make what they make in 20 minutes. Maybe the goverment should look in to some kind of scheduled bus service with a marked route.
Know yourself, your friends, and plan ahead. It is big relief not having to worry about transport in the late evening. Leaving a car or two and retreiving the next day is really not a big hardship. Driving drunk you risk losing your license, crashing, and possibly injuring yourself, passengers, pedestrians, children, dogs, cyclists, or occupants of another vehicle. It's really not worth taking those enormous life-altering chances to save $50 (if it even is that much). Know yourself and plan ahead.
You still need to take responsibility for your addiction!
I wouldnt call it an addiction.I can only afford to go out for drinks once every three months due to the price of the transport home. A lot of my friends and i cant afford a reasonable apartment in town so weend up renting in the outer districts. The further out of town you live the nicer the apartment for the cheaper price. The cost of the taxis is detrimental to the entire economy. If there was a schedualed bus service then maybe more people would make the effort to head into town and spend a few dollars on a nice meal and a couple of glasses of wine. Not only would the patrons benefit but also the business owners might see an increase in trade due to the ease of returning home. I cant see how people can argue against some sort of public transport. It would benefit evreybody ( except maybe the taxis). you only need two buses. One heading east and returning and one heading west and returning. The goverment has wasted enough money on other ventures you cant tell me to put these buses on over the christmas season would break the bank. It must be the taxi drivers who disagree.
I agree with you on this…..cut down on the drinking and also when people are drunk do you have any idea how hard it is to control most of them…imagine that taxi driver cleaning vomit after 5am in the morning or getting cursed out or the person just not knowing where he or she really wants to go…..I have been at stop lights and seen these incidents…*hands over eyes* it’s not pretty…
Condolances to all that knew Rick. He was a special man to all that knew him.
If someone knew what they were doing in the traffic department they would have tracked the high risk areas prone with traffic accident and deaths and steps would have been taken to protect the public.
Year after year people die in the same areas and nothing changes. Why is that?
Spotts raceway and the bypasses have some of the highest rates of fatilities. There I have done part of it for the traffic department perhaps they could carry on.
Is anything ever going to be done in Cayman with a common sense and actually followed through? Cayman "Kind"? Where are crosswalks across WestBay road? Why aggressive public transport drivers have licenses? Why careless, drunk drivers that caused death and injuties end up with 1 year of jail time? Why there is never ever police presence on WestBay road? At least 4 times I barely avoided head on collision on that road and it always was someone trying use middle lane as a passing lane, while I was in the lane to make turn.
My deepest condolences to the family and frineds of the killed driver.
To Dear Pam (Sister of the gentleman that was killed),
I am so sorry about the death of your brother (I don't know either one of you). I wish to give you and your family my deepest condolences and I will pray for all of you and may God give you the strength to continue on with life and help the children understand the lost of their father.
My condolences go out to R’s family, friends and collogues at the medical school he attended.
This man was a loving caring person, not only to his family but to all his fellow students and to all the locals he met. He would have made a great Doctor.
XXXX
Again, I send my condolences out to this man’s family and friends.
My condolences first off goes out to Mr.Richard Martin Family…
Yes I as once known as a speeder and underground racer knows that this is a very to say the least an exciting stretch of road especially to those just getting their license, to really see how fast their car can go or to "shame up" the car that’s racing you..but there is almost always never any cops driving on that road or even pulled off…for goodness sakes they are sitting in Savanna why not on this "lovely" stretch of road…..or at least set a tinted police car with no one in it besides a camera lined up with the speedometer and it will slow speeders down seeing the car from a distance and those that don’t ,you could just issue there court hearing//ticket in the mail…as the RCIP would have all the proof they Need….
Or perhaps the irresponsible youth with the need to prove themselves could find a less destructive way to do so.
And the police could seek out drunk drivers 12 months a year.
That’s also true…but without the police being there in the first place how can they be stopped if the licensing dept followed by insurance company gives them the all clear to be on the road ,it gives them permission to drive on the roads that does not guarantee that they will not speed….
Perhaps young drives or drives caught not following the law(breaking the law) could get a different color license plate that allows them to be on the road 7am to 7pm depending on work/school schedule of course in that vehicle and if they are caught on the road after that time they lose their license….for a period of time..
but I clearly understand your point…it HOW to stop people from speeding..is the main argument.
The concerned citizens might want to pay attention to the dangerous roads
that people have to drive on besides having to deal with the drunken alcoholics driving around killing people.
Fighting for Beach access is OK but what about this dangerous round about
which is a death trap for people getting killed. Obviously something is wrong and needs to be corrected ASAP.
Can CNS look into this and speak to the Premier or the Public works including Roads works MInister Juliana OcConnor. She must show concern and correct this.
I'm confused… as to the roundabout…this happened outside Lakeside…there is no roundabout there
There is no roundabout there. The drunk driver was too lazy (and/or too drunk) to go to the next roundabout and come back around. I see this most days when I come down that road, how lazy can some people be? Divide the highway with a concrete barrier, this would save a lot of lives when you think that when cars collide head on you add their speeds together to calculate the force of the impact.
My heart bleeds for Mr. Martins family.
What a small world some people live in. Cayman has by FAR some of the best kept, safest road I have ever been on throughout my travels around the world.
Roads,roundabouts and light poles don't cause accidents, people do.
I would love to some of these drivers take a "driving test"
And if we only had a public transport service that ran into the late night/early morning hours, perhaps some, if not all of these tragic DUI incidents could be avoided.
Sincere condolences to family and friends of the deceased.
100%of these tragic accidents would be avoided if people didn't drink and drive. Plain and simple – if you drink don't drive. No excuse , lack of public transport, poor policing of the area etc, can justify a life that is lost due to drunk driving!
Since condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
My condolences to the family for sure…very sad.
I agree with the comment – roads dont kill people, it is the drivers, especially on this road.
The bottom line is that probably 20-30% of people on the roads at that time of night are impaired – I have been here 15 years and many of my pals drink and drive with no fear of getting caught. Part of that problem is the OUTRAGEOUS fees the cabs charge. If the cabbies had metered cabs, people would take them. I have made this argument time and time again here. Slow down people and dont pass on that bypass !
Unfortunately it was only a matter of time before we had yet another death on this stretch of highway. I drive this road many times each day and nearly everytime there is some idiot from Lakeside (Dumpside?) doing an illegal right turn either into, or out of, the development. This 'Left In-Left Out Only' access should never have been allowed in the first place. This access was not on the original NRA plan for the highway and only happened because of the influence of one of the prominant developers. Now the development is there I guess it is too late to remedy, but I hope that anyone caught doing the illegal right turn, and risking the lives of others, is punished to the full extent of the law. Unfortunately the developer will get away scott free, as usual…
Anon 1353, while I understand your frustration at that driver could someone explain how this planning disaster got across the board. And more importantly is what quality designer could have installed that entrance/exit way. Moreover it was easier to put it from the other side anyway of the compound anyway. Now they have designed a deathtrap and people are paying for it while someone has walked off with money for those plans and our beloved planning board proved XXXX
I guess the thumbs down must be from the same idiots who live at Dumpside and consistently do the illegal right turns and put everybody's life at risk…
nope, they are from intelligent people who see you are not adressing the cause of the accident…….
I agree with this post. I can't believe they allowed that "entrance / exit" to be that way. Also, how long do you think it will take before some art lover dies outside from the new National Gallery? That stretch of road was NEVER DESIGNED for development on either side? Why the hell do you think there is a freaking dump on one side?
nothing wrong with the design of the entrance/exit…'.left in – left out' should be perfectly safe when obeyed……… anyways what has this got to do with the accident?
this accident had nothing to do with lakeside…but don't let the facts get in the way of stupid rant…..
Condolences to the innocent involved.
The driving on this island is getting worse and worse every year. And the selfishness of most drivers beggers belief. Every morning going past redbay primary you get the idiots pulling out onto the wrong side of the road so they can jump a few cars. I would love to see them all crash into each other.
Not to mention the ones who have no idea there is anyone behind them when they sit 6 feet back from the lights, preventing everyone behind turning left. Makes the blood boil.
Can't see anything improving though, sadly.
I hope they throw the book at the DUI suspect, if found guilty.
If they find the DUI suspect guilty, I hope they lock him up and throw away the key!
Seems the "Christmas Show' has started a little earlier than usual this year.
My condolences to the innocent.
Those people that have previously written to complain about the RCIPS having nothing better to do than go after dangerous drivers……hang your heads in shame. Drink, drugs and the use of mobile phones whilst driving are the biggest killers yet drivers still do it regularly thinking they are immune from accidents. Condolences to the victim's family. Let's hope the driver, if found guilty of causing death, gets a jail sentence that deters others from driving foolishly.
My question is, where are the police when they are needed. The presence of police on this road is almost slim to none. That road is one known for wreckless driving and law enforcement and the traffic department play no role in preventing wreckless driving from occuring on that road. By the way, what happened to the increased number in road checks that were going to be starting the end of this month and to continue to the end of the Christmas season????? Food for thought.
Hardly "wreckless", I'd say.
RCIPS sure can sure spin the wheels of the media with these epic tales of vigilance we the public however see and know better. Christmas Cracker yeah right another bunch of hocus pocus traffic doodoo
This makes me so angry. The dead guy is my brother. He was coming back from a study session for med school finals and was right near his apartment.
Somebody's good time drinking took the life of a promising doctor, a father, husband, brother and son. I hope your laws are strict enough that this person pays for what he has taken.
I am so sorry for your loss, Pam.
Our sincere condolences go out to you and you family, may your brother RIP.
Soo sorry to hear of this Pam,
My thought & prayers are with your family!
May God give you peace and comfort!
My deepest deepest condolences to you and the rest of your family – sentiments I am sure extended to you all from everyone here in the Cayman Islands. Tragedies like this are always heartbreaking but at Christmas time every more so. My you find comfort in knowing that many people do care and are saddened and hurt with you. Our thoughts and prayers with you and your family at this time.
Until they put barriers up on Esterly between the Butterfield roundabout and Camana making it one lane with no passing both ways you will continue to have crosses added to the side of that road. Too many dirvers here have no concept of safe driving, closing distance or sane, rational decision making when passing to let that road remain the way it is.
Central barriers are a must if this road is to be made safer.
and while you're at it make it a 4 lane road so nobody ever has to overtake.
Also need some sort of barrier around the Lakeside entrance, many times I have see people cross lanes going in or out of that complex.
I agree. Until they put up a barrier between the 2 lanes, accidents like this will continue. This is a no-brainer – I don't understand why it hasn't been done yet.
I think they should really consider a divider between the opposing lanes to stop people from crossing over.
I drive that road everyday to and from work and every now and then you have someone passing you and also see people pulled over on the side of the road so they can do a u-turn to get into dumpside apartments.
Whenever I hear of an accident I immediately think of my wife and son and think "what if…."
My prayers go out to the victims famiily.
Government needs to straighten out this road or move the round about.
Dart can not come here and enjoy the luxury of a round about while people are getting killed there. This man is trouble for this country.
Eh? You mental?
Name one constructive thing, just one, that you do for your country.
Eejit!
Hello! Jackass, r/about got nothing to do with drunk driving
How on earth did Dart have anything to do with this? Government planned and gazetted the road and in fact, it was the former LOGB who allowed the driveway at Lakeside apartments because the developer was an old fishing crony of his. And he did this despite advice to the contrary from NRA staff !!
How is this conceivably anything whatsoever to do with Ken Dart, Camana Bay or its roundabout? The accident occured well away from the roundabout, and apparently involves a driver under the influence. It occured on a road that was not designed or built by the Dart orgainistaion, but by the National Roads Authority. What other than your obvious prejudicedo you have to suggest that there is a connection betwen the incident and Mr Dart?
With a retarded statement like that, I would image that you are trouble for this country! Stop being a hater and start being productive.
Roads don't kill people. People that shouldn't be driving because of impairment, lack of skill and judgment, or just to stupid to not be a danger to anyone else on the road kill people.
Sad to say Sally, but this is actually the 5th fatality since this road was opened.
Another lamentable and avoidable alcohol-related tragedy.
We are left to ask when exactly are the RCIPS planning to commence their much fanfaired campaigns? And why are these merely seasonal campaigns when hundreds of offending drivers over-drink every day of the year (and at all times of the day)?!?
This stretch of road needs a concrete dividing wall to stop vehicles overtaking. An additional lane can be added on each side to allow emergency vehicles and overtaking traffic to do so safely.
This would also force drivers entering and exiting properties along this road to do so safely.
I see wreckless acts of driving on this road daily and no amount of policingwill modify these dangerous driving habits.
In fact, so many folks seem hell bent on crossing 2 lanes of traffic to go in the opposite direction, casuing huge back-ups of vehicles. When they can courteously turn and merge with the traffic, then use a roundabout nearby to come back in the oppostite direction.
Isn’t this location a very high risk area. don’t a lot of accidents take place at this very place?What is being done to straighten this road, move it or make the necessary adjustments to save lives?
Ezzard, Alden, are you interested in saving lives? Deal with this please.
Are you mental?
Straighten the road??? How about not driving drunk? How about not driving like you think that you are a formula 1 racer? Take some responsiblity for a change.
I'm very saddened to hear of another fatality on the Cayman roads. From the report of a head on collision one can gather that overtaking or speed was involved, when will drivers learn not to do either of these. It's just not worth it!
As i was driving in to work this morning from the red bay area (at the speed limit) there were several cars speeding in & out of lanes and overtaking on LPHWY. There is no need for this. Don't jeopardize other drivers because your late or you just have bad driving habits!
Please drivers act responsible!
I too offer condolences to loved ones of the victims, and share a recollection of absent companions similarly lost. Jonathan S. Tarboton died on this highway in October of 2008 and that was at least the third major smash on that stretch of road at the time, one of which was Shaney Kol. Jonathan was well-loved by his friends and family, as no doubt was this victim.
Our prayers go out to the family and friends of the deceased, and hopefully this time (yes, it keeps happening) the authorities do something finally about this road.
Bypass seems to be interpreted as SPEEDING LANES here in Cayman…but its not, its simply a BYPASS around congested GT…..we should reduce the speed limit to 30 on it…you will still get to other end at the same time anyhow! And position permanent speed enforcement, and make fines huge, etc, etc.
who thought it a good idea to build condo's off this road? how many times the residents and guests of those condo's illegally make a right turn off the bypass into their units OR worse, they make an illegal right turn OUT of their units across oncoming traffic……its lethal.
and now, some genius has gone and built the new gallery or museum or whatever it is on this same stretch of craziness…..how many accidents will happen as people completely ignore the rules and try to make illegal right turns in and out of this new building? its going to be chaos, i cannto believe there is no proper planning on this road….do we really think that when a function is happening in this new building, that all the guests that come from the west are going to drive past, and head all the way down to A L Thompson roundaboout to come all the way back up to turn in??? no freaking way……we are going t have accidents, there is no doubt
please, NRA or whoever….sort this road now….its single lane, it should be a 30 all the way from ALThompson to the Britannia roundabout where it then goes dual-lane……and these condos and the new museum/gallery thing should have huge impediments to right turns across lanes, making it impossible…..otherwise, well……its not like we're not warned
be careful cayman.
If you are coming from West Bay then you would turn right at the roundabout and head towards the old cinema. Before that complex there is a left turn into the back of the new building – I think that is how it is planned. CNS please can you confirm?
Why wouldn't you build condos, a museum etc. on this road? Should this just be a desolate area simply because there are idiots in our midst? The onus is on each of us to act responsibly, if a person doesn't, then one should be punished.
I think there is no problem with the road. Simple fact is that people think because there is/was little activity on it, with the exception of thru-traffic it can be used as a proving ground to test out some crazy new maneuver or to just drive without care.
Lack, or abundance of condos, side-roads, museums or office towers is no justification to an individual not using common sense or following the road code.
The road was opened a little before 8am this morning so probably close to 15 minutes before this was published.
Condolences to the family of deceased.
Very sad news – condolences to family and friends of the victims and a speedy recovery to those who are injured or traumatised by the accident.
This road is so dangerous. I have been here 8 years and this is the 3rd death on that stretch, one of which was my firnd Shany.
It seems to be a combination of wreckless overtaking and people not paying due care and attention. Not so long ago, I watched in horror as a driver in front of me was reaching into the footwell of his passenger seat to get something and veered into oncoming traffic. The approaching car had to swerve onto the hardshoulder and luckily no accident happened….but it just seems that people are easily distracted when on a long straight (ish) road.
Please, everyone be terribly careful and pay close attention on all roads, but especially on Esterley Tibbets Highway.
This is not "Long straight road", what are you talking about? Disregard to the value of human life and carelessness unfortunately the cause of many traffic accidents. But this road is terrible. I am wondering what this new construction close to the Camana Bay roundabout will do . Who designed and approved this?
Whats wrong with the road? Nothing. Its the idiotic and irresponsible drivers, who I regularly see overtaking at rediculous speeds who have no brains or respect for anything. How are these people allowed to get a drivers license?
Most of them probably don’t have driving licences anyway, or insurance, or tax……combine that with no brains, copious amounts of booze and a snoozing traffic cop and you have a pending death sentence for an innocent person……..ah Cayman
Install speed bumps.
Although this is very sad, it is the drivers that are dangerous, not the road.
"This road is so dangerous."
Personally, I think this road is designed safely. A relatively low speed limit. Two wide lanes, well marked. An excellent, unobscured line of sight and (so far) only one side entry/exit that is on the north bound lane (that IS often misused by out going traffic exiting south).
In my opinion, the REAL problem is the ignorant, irresponsible and stupid DRIVERS.
Condolences to you, "Soapbox Sally" and all Shany's family, friends and associates and for the others who have suffered at the hands of these unthinking drivers who caused the pain and suffering of many.
None of these accidents should have happened.
The road is designed safely for use by courteous, thoughtful, well trained drivers – unfortunately these are few and far between in Cayman. Further, the police seem incapable of enforcing any traffic laws (they wait for an accident to engage in any sort of traffic enforcement). As such the only solution is to put a concrete barrier down the center to prevent overtaking (or drunks crossing into oncomoing traffic).