accident

Loved ones are struggling to process the sudden loss of 64-year-old Vincent Hepburn, a father, neighbor whose life was cut short on Saturday as he made his way home.

His daughter shared her heartbreak publicly, writing, “Y’all hurt me bad. My daddy.”

Police say Hepburn was struck while crossing Bahamas Games Boulevard near Yellow Elder as he walked home. He was only minutes away from his house when the incident occurred.

Those who knew him describe a man who lived humbly but left a deep impression.

Michael Rahming recalled seeing him earlier that day. “You just passed me earlier,” he wrote.

Another resident remembered him as “my good neighbour.”

At the Office of the Registrar General, where Hepburn was a familiar face, visitors spoke of his kindness. Choosen Newton shared, “This my boy… He used to help me so good.”

Thomasina Roberts said Hepburn once strengthened her faith.

“You just encouraged me last month to hold on to Jesus and don’t let go… A man of great wisdom.”

Others described his quiet character.

“Down-to-earth and friendly,” Monique Burrows wrote.

Garvin Cassar said Hepburn was known for helping wherever he could. “He was a very hardworking man, often seen at the Registry assisting workers with daily tasks. He will be sadly missed and will undoubtedly leave a vacuum of emptiness among his peers.”

According to family members, Hepburn was blind in his left eye. A bag of groceries was found near the scene, and his daughter believes he had been heading home to prepare dinner — something she said he enjoyed doing.

Amid their grief, the family is also seeking answers.

Bianca Hepburn told The Tribune that relatives believe her father’s death resulted from negligent driving. Another woman, Monique Dorsett, alleged on social media that a driver overtook a vehicle that had stopped to allow Hepburn to cross.

Authorities have not yet made a determination, and investigations remain ongoing.

For those who loved him, they say they are left with memories, unanswered questions, and a deep and aching pain.

Tears, prayers, and moments of reflection filled Full Gospel Assembly in Abaco on Saturday as loved ones gathered to mourn the lives of Monique Williams and her 13-year-old nephew, Terrence Williams, who were taken in a tragic car accident last month.

Family members, quietly with friends and community members, were united by the memories of Monique and Terrence.

As hymns echoed through the church, tears flowed freely and quietly and the service became a farewell and a reminder of how Monique and Terrence were loved.

Watch as family and friends view Monique and Terrence Williams.

Williams, 53, was remembered as a woman whose kindness was felt long before it was spoken. A preschool teacher, a friend said, she had a way of making everyone around her feel seen and cared for.

“She never sought the spotlight. She was always present, always faithful.”

They described Monique as family-oriented, thoughtful, and loyal.

Her devotion, they said, extended into her classroom, where she poured love and guidance into the children she taught.

Terrence Williams was remembered as a shy but joyful 13-year-old whose smile, loved ones said, could light up any room. A student at S.C. Bootle High School, Terrence, mourners said, had a gentle spirit and a growing love for basketball.

“He was sweet,” one family friend said in a social media post. “A good boy with a bright spirit.”

The pair died tragically in Marsh Harbour, shortly after 8 a.m., as the aunt and nephew traveled north along the roadway. Police say their vehicle was struck head-on by another car traveling in the opposite direction.

The driver of the other vehicle, a tourist visiting Abaco for the first time, has since been charged in connection with the fatal crash. He drove on the wrong side of the road.

The family of Devon Butler, who was killed in a hit-and-run while walking home from work, is now facing another painful reality– they cannot afford to lay him to rest without assistance.

“This loss has shaken our family deeply,” his sister Perissa Williams shared. “We are doing our best to give Devon the peaceful farewell he deserves.”

The family simply doesn’t have the means to do it alone.

The 27-year-old father had stopped briefly at a laundromat to use a phone as he tried to find a ride home. Just after 2 a.m, while walking east along Robinson Road, Devon was struck by one vehicle and then tragically run over by a second.

His family says the pain is unbearable.

Devon’s life had not been easy. After the passing of their father last September, the family struggled even more financially. Years earlier, they lived in hostels before finally finding stability under their father’s care.

Still, his sister said Devon refused to give up. “He pushed through the hardship to build a better life for himself and his son,” said Latoya Smith.

“He worked two jobs at Cash N Go and Cacique just to make ends meet and to take care of his baby. It wasn’t easy for him, but he was trying his best.”

Now, his family is asking the public for any assistance possible as they prepare for his burial.

“If anyone is willing and able to help, we would be truly grateful,” Williams said. “No amount is too small. Every bit of support means more than words can say.”

Donations can be made at Eternal Rest Mortuary.

Anyone wishing to reach the family may contact:

• Latoya Smith 818-4977
• Perissa Williams 805-5285

The year 2024 was marked by dramatic events. Many people were exposed to tragedies and violence, some incidents sparking fear and shock.

Here are the top eight news stories that left us sad:

1. Politician and Deputy Chair of Free National Movement fatally shot (March 27)

Former Parliamentarian Don Saunders who served as Deputy Chair of the Free National Movement, was tragically killed during an alleged robbery in Gambier Village. He was reportedly seated outside an establishment when two masked gunmen approached him and another individual, demanding cash. Saunders fled and was shot in the neck, dying on the scene.

The incident shocked the nation, highlighting concerns about public safety and leading to calls for enhanced security measures.

2. Social media influencer dies by suicide but family disputes the autopsy

Twenty-seven-year-old Destiny Hamilton, a social media influencer with over 20,000 followers, was found in a bathroom around 8.30 am with a laceration to her wrist, in Guana Cay, Abaco. Police classified the death as a suicide but her family disputed the pathology report, insisting the “story isn’t adding up”.

Her cousin, Bennae Beneby-Pinder insisted that she was full of life and loved living.

Hamilton’s mother, Gladys Hamilton initially agreed with the pathology report but later retracted her statements, requesting an investigation into the death of her daughter be reopened. “I feel in my heart my daughter didn’t kill herself,” she said.

3. Geovanni Rolle was killed on Father’s Day. A suspect was released and the case remains unsolved (July 16)

Geovani Rolle, 38, was killed after arriving at his workplace, near the airport during the early morning hours. A suspect was arrested in the departure lounge of the domestic terminal at the Lynden Pindling International Airport after the killing, but he was released.

Rolle’s family offered a $25,000 reward for anyone with information that leads to the arrest of a suspect responsible for his death but has since publicly expressed that authorities may have colluded with the suspect for his release.

4. Three brothers from Andros were killed in a car crash (September 3)

The nation grieved with the family of three brothers killed in Nassau when their vehicle crashed into a tree off Sir Milo Butler Highway. Philip McCarron,24; Philip D’Caprio,23 died on the scene and Deangelo Christie, 20, died hours later in hospital.

The brothers were reared in Andros but transitioned to Nassau for employment at Bahamas Telecommunications and Bahamas Power and Light.

Their mother Lovan Chrsitie pleaded for donations to help bury her only sons. “My heart is broken in ways I can’t even begin to describe…Any donation, no matter how big or small, will be a blessing as I navigate this painful journey.”

5. Two die after plane ditches in water (September 13)

A Piper Aztec with six people onboard ditched in waters about eight miles west of New Providence.  Emma Williams was en route to her mother’s funeral in Lowe Sound, Andros, and Allen Russell, believed to be in his 80s, and a beloved taxi driver in Andros, died onboard.

6. Boy, 8, commits suicide when mother said ‘no’ to watching YouTube  (October 11)

An older sibling found his brother, eight-year-old Mariano Chery, hanging from the security bars of a window in their home, in what police ruled a suicide. He was transported to the hospital but died.

The boy’s mother later told local dailies that he was denied access to watch YouTube when he became upset, wandered to his room, and was found unresponsive. “Mariano just wanted to watch YouTube, so I said Mariano, let’s watch one more movie. He said ‘Mummy, I don’t want to watch movie. Y’all never let me watch what I want to watch.”

The boy was a third-grade student at TG Glover. “I wish I could’ve catch him in time,” she told The Tribune.

Mariano was the youngest case of suspected suicide in the country.

7. Adriel Moxey was raped and strangled in bushes near her home, after disappearing when school was dismissed (November 20)

The 12-year-old student of Anatol Rodgers High School went missing and was found two days later in bushes through a track road off Faith Avenue South.

She was last seen leaving school, spurring the issuance of a MARCO alert. Her mother, Sasha Moxey, pleaded for her daughter’s safe return, but the child was discovered later that evening partially clothed with a string tied around her neck. Police confirmed she was sexually assaulted and strangled.

The killing spurred public anger.

Authorities said a suspect turned himself in to police and is expected to be charged with her murder, this week.

8. Seamstress found dead in her home after a dinner party with sisters. The suspect was found sitting on her bed (November 24)

72-year-old Vernencha Butler, returning from a birthday party for a sister, was found dead in her home after a break-in, around 3 a.m.

Two male relatives, on arrival at the home, discovered the suspect sitting on her bed, and Butler unresponsive. Police said she was assaulted by the intruder, who was arrested and taken into custody.

Precious Sweeting lost her 17-year-old son Brieon Sweeting on September 8 in a motorcycle accident. She plans to hold a Souse Out to pay for the funeral.

Brieon was visiting Nassau from Andros. While driving a motorcycle along’ Go Slow Bend’, West Bay Street, he collided with a black Ford Explorer driven by a man believed to be a senior judge.  According to police, the black Ford Explorer was traveling north on West Bay Street near Coral Drive, when the driver said he attempted to make a left turn into the western seaview parking lot. The driver felt an impact and saw Brieon crash into a gate on the street’s western side.

Emergency Medical Services determined that Brieon died on the scene.

Sweeting has planned the event for Saturday in Nassau Village and posted the flyer to social media, requesting financial assistance to pay for her son’s burial.

The flyer reads, “In aid of Breion’s Homegoing Celebration.”  She is asking for a donation of $10.

Sweeting said the insurance coverage was not sufficient to pay for the funeral and is expecting that the proceeds from the Souse Out will cover the cost.

At the time of the incident, police said it was not yet determined who was at fault for the accident. Sweeting said she still does not know who drove the black Ford Explorer.

“I’m looking for information in reference to who knock[ed] down my son, because not only am I struggling emotionally with the death of my son but I’m also struggling financially,” she said in another social media post.

Brieon’s father  Kevin Louissaint described the teen as “joyful” and was expecting that he would return to Andros after taking a swimming test for employment on a cay. Instead, Louissant was informed that one of his worst fears became true.

He never wanted his son to ride a motorcycle. “I always told him to stay off those bikes.”

Sweeting believes the driver of the black vehicle “left him in the road like he was some dog.”

Breion will be buried on October 5.

In a tragic turn of events, Brieon Sweeting, a 17-year-old known for his infectious joy and ability to brighten anyone’s day, lost his life in a motorcycle accident last Sunday.

His father, Kevin Louissaint, reminisced about his son’s vibrant spirit, saying, “He was about putting a smile on everyone’s face.”

The accident occurred when a black Ford Explorer, making a left turn on West Bay Street, collided with Sweeting’s motorcycle.

Despite emergency responders’ efforts, Sweeting was pronounced dead at the scene.

Louissaint, who had always been apprehensive about motorcycles, expressed his deep sorrow, revealing that his son had moved to Nassau for a job opportunity that ultimately did not materialize due to age restrictions.

Remembered as wise beyond his years, Sweeting is described by his father as someone who “never acted his age,” always seeming a mature.

Two of three brothers killed early Monday morning in a tragic car crash on Sir Milo Butler Highway worked at Batelco and Bahamas Power and Light where their colleagues are struggling to come to terms with their tragic deaths that widely circulated on social media.

Twenty-four-year-old Philip Christie and twenty-three-year-old D’Caprio Christie were cherished employees at their respective companies.

The  Christie brothers were remembered for their hard work and dedication.

Philip Christie, a member of the Service Delivery Team was praised for always going the extra mile and was described as an excellent team member.

BTC CEO Sameer Bhatti said, “Philip was fun-loving, well-loved by his colleagues and would always make you smile. He was the life of the team.”

Philip’s younger brother D’Caprio joined BPL in 2023 as a craftsman apprentice and was admired for his passion and commitment to the corporation. “In a short time, he quickly became a valued team member, admired for his enthusiasm, hard work and commitment to the craft,” BPL CEO Shevonn Cambridge said in a shared press statement.

Philip and D’Caprio with their 20-year-old brother Deangelo were the country’s latest traffic fatality when their Honda Passport travelling north, lost control, veered off the road and hit a tree along Sir Milo Butler Highway around 2 am.

The Jaws of Life was used to extricate D’Caprio and Philip, the driver and front-seat passenger. They both succumbed on the scene.

Deangelo, a backseat passenger, was transported to the hospital with serious injuries but he died sometime later on Monday morning.

The trio was reared in Andros and transitioned to Nassau for employment, cousin Allyah told the Nassau Guardian.

She described them as “honorable, loving and respectable” young men.

The community of Andros joined the mother in mourning three brothers killed in a traffic accident in Nassau early Monday morning.

“[They were] young, vibrant and talented young men,” the Member of Parliament for North Andros and the Berry Island Leonardo Lightbourne remembered in a social media post.

Deangelo, D’Caprio and Philip Christie were the country’s latest traffic fatality when their Honda Passport lost control and hit a tree along Sir Milo Butler Highway around 2 am. The Jaws of Life was used to extricate D’Caprio, 23, and Philip 24, who were the driver and front-seat passenger. They both died on the scene.

Deangelo, 20, a backseat passenger, died sometime later Monday morning after being hospitalized for serious injuries.

“This is a very difficult time for their families…We are asking the entire NABI family to keep this family in their prayers,” Lightbourne said.

A friend of the brothers, George Pratt Jr described them as “humble.”

“The whole island of Andros could say Mrs Vannie Christie boys were humble and they didn’t forget what she taught them.

“No one who came in contact with Philip, D’Caprio or Deangelo could say they were troublesome guys,” he lamented.

Shyvonne Burrows had known the men as children and echoed Pratt’s sentiments.

“I just spoke with the mom for the longest on Saturday about them, not knowing. I am literally lost for words,” Raquel Beneby.

Tario Miller is in shock and grieving the loss. He had spent Sunday with the trio before he returned home to rest and prepare for work. “I wish I could hug my brothers one more time,” he said.

Friend Ron Jones said his last conversation with D’Caprio included a promise to visit him in Minnesota but that never happened.

“You were the first person back home who supported my business. I can’t believe this.”

Allison Dyck, one of the latest boating accident victims in the Bahamas is described by family and friends as “a beacon of hope and inspiration”.

Dyke 38, visiting from Washington, was snorkeling with her spouse on Pink Sands Beach in Harbor Island on June 22. She was struck by a boat and died in the hospital from the injuries.

Friends say the woman who had a career with the US Department of State and had recently purchased a new home, had a “warm spirit and kind heart.”

“Her death has left a deep void in the hearts of her family and friends.”

Henry Gendt, her friend and business partner organized a fundraiser, “Helping Allison’s Dream Live On,” to assist the legal efforts and to further Dyck’s dream of starting a philanthropy.

Gendt’s goal was to raise $15,000 but it was stalled pending family consultation.

“Allison was well-loved by all she knew and was a brilliant woman who will be fondly remembered for her warmth, beauty, loving nature, loyalty, humour, creativity, athleticism and culinary skills,” the family said.

She was a marathon runner and a traveler.

If you saw or may have footage of the incident, you are asked to contact the police at 502-9991. The family’s local advisor can be contacted at 554-3983.

Condolences, memories, and information about the incident could be emailed to infoallisonbahamas@gmail.com.