Jogger killed in road smash
(CNS) Updated: A woman who was out jogging in South Sound early this morning has been killed in a road collision and the driver of the car arrested for DUI and dangerous driving. Marcia Donaldson (46), from George Town, was hit by the car driven by a 25-year-old man just before 5am Saturday near to Cayman Crossing on South Sound Road. Just 48 hours after Donnie Ray Connor (59) was killed in a hit and run when he was knocked off his bicycle on Linford Pierson Highway, Cayman’s roads have claimed the seventh victim for the year.
The police described the fatal crash as a “major collision” and said the car had collided with a utility pole and hit the woman, who was out for an early morning run.
“Family members have since been notified of her passing. The RCIPS at this time sends its condolences to the family of Ms Donaldson,” a police spokesperson said.
The 25-year-old man, who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and suspicion of causing death by drunk driving, is presently receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the collision at the hospital and has been bailed to return to the George Town Police Station at a later date.
The road has reopened to traffic and traffic investigators are now appealing for witnesses who may have seen the collision to contact the senior investigating officer, Inspector Adrian Barnett, at 526-2204 or PC Watts at the George Town Police Station on 949-4222.
How come we have not heard anything further on this case? Has he been brought before the courts? The other death that took place that same week is in the news but not this one??? Puzzled!
I think most of these comments are losing sight at the fact that there is a woman who died. Just post your condolences and be done. Make your suggestions to your MLA.
That said. I offer my condolences to her loved ones.
First of all condolences to the family and friends.
The abysmal driving habits of many people here and the complete lack of enforcement of traffic laws by the RCIPS are a disastrous combination. If basic traffic offences were enforced and repeat offenders disqualified from driving the roads would be far safer for everyone.
I am so sorry for the victim and her family, this is truly tragic. I also like to jog in South Sound, and have had serveral close misses with irresponsible drivers. The operator of a motor vehicle one has a far greater responsibility than that of of a pedestrian. An average car weighs 4,000 pounds, and in the hands of an impaired or negligent driver becomes a dangerous weapon.
South sound has always been a safe and favorite place for cyclist and joggers. However with the increase in vehicles on the road, more people excercising and development in the area, I would have thought cycling lanes and side walks would have been implemented by now?
Condolences to the family.
Yes, that would be great but there is a cycling/walking lane on the Newland Bypass and that is usually used by motor bikes to overtake cars! I am afraid that unless the traffic laws are enforced on a regular basis and automated speed traps are installed throughout the Island, nothing will change, no matter how many side walks/cycling lane we build!
Cayman desperately needs some sidewalks or a jogging/ cycling track. There is just not enough room on SS Road for 2 lanes of traffic and joggers/ cyclists.
The roads are not the problem.
The caymanian/jamaican driving style is.
Stick to the speed limit or slower.
Velocity and driver nationality have nothing to do with it. Collisions are a consequence of proximity. All drivers regardless of their background should know to automatically change lanes when possible to create a comfortable buffer for any oncoming hazards, pedestrians or cyclists, or any vehicles stopped on a shoulder. To pass closely in adjacent proximity is inherently dangerous and a demerit offense in many countries. A North American example: first offense is up to $2000 fine and 3 demerit points (raises your insurance costs), second offense is up to $4000, possible jail up to 6 months and loss of license for 2 years. It also helps in these other places that their paid traffic department actually shows up, and are out on the streets enforcing ALL the laws. Why shouldn’t we hold the same expectation of the RCIPS?
The real issue here isn’t just a lack of pedestrian / bike lanes, the bigger issue here is that some people here have a complete lack of respect of when driving. Case in point Driving under influence (drinking or drugs), texting while driving, talking on cells while driving, putting on makeup in the rear view mirror and on and on. I’ve seen cases of each one of these.
The worst being that locals and Caribbean people in general feel that because they ‘only have a few drinks’ they are ok to drive. Not saying other nationalities outside of our region dont. I’ve been out with Brits e.t.c that get absolutely smashed, but at the end of the night, they’ll usually walk or catch a taxi and usually know how they will make it home and not driving.
DUIs are way too high here. Don’t believe it? Just look at the large number of stats the police rack just in December alone on this little island.
People need to be responsible on the roads, the whole long and short of it. Condolences go out to the Donaldson family on this very avoidable tragedy.
South Sound is a nightmare in the early hours for traffic and cyclists/joggers/walkers. The road is only a two lane carriageway, with little or no sidewalks, and in some cases hardly a gap between property boundaries and the road. Even traffic driving within the speed limit has issues negotiating joggers and cyclists, sometime two abreast, and oncoming vehicles. Joggers should at least take into account that the poor visibility at dawn and dusk makes it difficult to see persons on the road at those times. Move to single file when a car is approaching; you cannot see what the driver sees coming towards him and how he may have little maneuvering room. This is NOT to blame joggers and cyclists, but everyone needs to appreciate the rules of the road, whether on two legs, two wheels or four wheels.
The group of cyclists who regularly use that road in the mornings probably do not appreciate that the flashing of their headlights, (powered by dynamos as they pedal?) is positively blinding and confusing for cars coming in the other direction…up to 20 or 30 lights blinking and flashing as they cycle along towards you…can they use headlamps with a steady beam instead?
Yes blame the victim, not the drunk driver
If you think little bike lights are blinding you, what do you think your full beams are doing for them? and maybe don’t drink and drive, just a suggestion
Don’t be ridiculous, I was just expressing an opinion as a normal road user driving carefully along that road in the early morning, certainly not drunk and not using full beam…and I was not at all blaming the victim, I was expressing an opinion of the conditions on that road which are just not suitable for the amount of persons jogging and cycling there in bad light with little room. Drive along there between 5am and 6am and you will experience what I am saying.
Oh and by the way I was not talking of “little bike lights”, I was talking of a group of 20 or so riders who ride together with 20 or so very bright head lights flashing as they ride…it is quite disconcerting when that group suddenly appear as an ongoing mass heading your way round a bend in the road….difficult in the dawn light to know what side of the road they are on, and while you are distracted by that – several joggers are also heading your way on your side of the road…I can assure you this is a daily occurrence.
I see those cyclists early in the morning too. I don’t really have any problem with the lights and they certainly can’t be missed. The early morning used to be the safest time to run/walk/cycle and is still probably the safer time, but it is sad to see reckless driving on the increase. I am saddened by Ms Donaldson’s needless death. Society has failed her and one can only hope the government and police take note and swift action to increase safety on the roads.
Heartfelt condolences to the family and friends. Was she jogging in the same direction as traffic or facing it? Was she wearing reflective lights as it would have been dark at that time? While the government is working at improving the roads, they should consider widening South South Road to accommodate a side lane for joggers and cyclists. Otherwise that road is just not suitable for either of these activities, no matter how beautiful and scenic the view is.
The speed limit on this road is 30mph (lower than it is currently on West Bay Road). I very much doubt that this car was being driven within the speed limit. Please do not automatically blame the jogger for the inadequacies of a significant number of drivers.
This is absolutely awful and my heart and condolences go out to the family. I stopped jogging in the dark after almost getting hit or run over on several occasions despite wearing bright clothing and carrying a flashlight!!! Crazy drivers know there is no traffic law enforcement in bright day light so as sure as hell there isnt going to be one at 5:00 a.m.!!!! Not saying the fault here is entirely with the driver as I dont know what took place just going off my experiences……and my experience is that I can drive all over the place for months without seeing a traffic cop in action!
My two cents. I know nothing more about the circumstances surrounding this tragedy but if my words can indirectly save another life by the publicity of this platform, I have to say it as no one else has and we all see it everyday as we drive to and from work. The rules of the road are walk or run towards oncoming traffic and ride with traffic.
Really? I guess you do not cycle much here. If you are riding against traffic at least you a chance of getting out of the way of all of the irresponsible, drunk, cell phone talking, over taking, A-hole drivers before the run you down from behind.
Rules of the road…bikes are considered vehicles and should not be driven on the road in the opposite direction of traffic. You’re at a higher risk of injury or accident (or causing an accident) if one does not obey basic traffic laws…
DEAR GOD not another death on our rd,sour prayers and condolence to both family ,s
My deepest condolences to the Relatives and friends of Ms Donaldson.
This is absolutely sad and incredible — we have got to do better Cayman — it should never be such a risk just to take a morning jog. So very heart rending.
My condolences to those family members who are affected by both tragedies, But we have sat back and let these dreamers and job opportunist from overseas systematically come here and deplete and destroy the old and tried Law enforcement mechanisms,that were in place. This has been replace by absolute UK rubbish to make it more comfortable, convenient and conducive to them and their little agenda.This has made our island very unsafe and our roads extremely dangerous. My case in point the dissolving of our Traffic Department. Now we have people being struck down and killed and left by the roadside. South Sound is 30 MPH zone. Where are the Speed Radar Cars ???? Oh i guess we will need more cameras now to catch them after the fact. There is absolutely no deterrent to crime in this place but we are paying our overseas experts lots of money though?
Racist much? Check out your prison honey, all expats?
I agree that they shouldnt have got rid of traffic but the majority of our police are caymanian andnprefer to stay in there office in thenac than go out and work so lets not point fingers at others
12:36 status holders are ?Caymanians? The Police Services has more status (caymanians) than born, indigenous ones.
Check their place of birth.
Please explain why it matters where a person was born? It is the government that made the (poor) decision to close the traffic office. Why does everything have to always come down to expat v Caymanian? This poor (Caymanian) woman lost her life (hit by a Caymanian) and all you can complain about is how it’s the expats fault. This is a completely xenophobic society who has buried their head in the sand for too long.
We are paying our overseas experts a lot, because we don’t have the brain and will power to do it ourselves.
Churches stick their heads in the sand and politicians are busy fighting each other and protecting their business interests.
Our driving style is messed up by jamaicans and their horrible road manners. Our youth is seeing this as the standard.
We need European guidance in almost everything . . . . .
Aren’t you tired of playing the Jamaican card. Stop generalizing about Jamaicans; folks with horrible road manners are every where. You would be surprised to know, many are born and bread right here in Cayman.
So its the ex-pats that are to blame for your lame law enforcement? And we are to blame for your lame and disrespectful driving style? We get it. Your too much of a fool to see the truth. You have my pity.
to Anonymous 6:09
I lived here since 1969 and i never saw this type of culture until the mass Jamaicans arrived. stopping in the middle of the road to chat or pick up their own people, overtaking on restricted areas, don’t know what an indicator is…never uses them, speeding and driving reckless, and this is not being prejudice against Jamaicans, as time went by, we all can see this nasty practice daily on our roads.
As i said, this type of road rage was never here until the masses arrived. Even a fool can see the truth! And yes, yours are to blame, your Jamaican law enforcement officers on our Island turn a blind eye to this as it is their culture also.
I am a Jamaican and I agree with you wholeheartedly. Most of us leave Jamaica to go elsewhere due to the lack of opportunities, but yet as soon as we reach somewhere else, we try our very best to make it look just like… Jamaica!!
I am unsure of the circumstances surrounding the accident with the jogger, but the point that you made is spot on. Prior to coming here, I would hear many comments about people hating Jamaicans in Cayman and such.. On arriving here, I realized that many Jamaicans here help to paint us in a very poor light. The stopping in the middle of the road, the leaving garbage everywhere, the loud and aggressive nature in which we deal with people and always trying to ‘go round’ the system… It is time that we as a people (Jamaicans) realize that there are serious issues among ourselves and try our best to sort them out, before we continuously complain that we are ‘picked on’…. At times, we are our own worst enemy…
A few weeks aback I heard some noise outside while I was sleeping. I got up and looked through my window (upstairs) and saw a lady having a conversation with someone in a vehicle.. Everyone in at least a 200 m range could hear every single word of the conversation. I looked at the time and it was 1:15am. They were Jamaicans.
I am a Jamaican, (a proud one) but until we admit that there is a problem, we can’t find a solution…..
so what nationality are those that have recently died or been in serious accidents while drink driving or racing in the past few years?
Honestly talk about rose tinted glasses.
Whilst I disagree with much of your post, I must say I question the logic of importing law enforcement officers from notoriously corrupt juristictions, and then being surprised that said officers are of questionable ethics.
Dear God! Not another. Unfortunately it can be the fault of both sides – I’ve frequently stopped and asked joggers and cyclists to please, for the love of God, wear/use more reflective clothing/lights when out – even at twilight it can be difficult to see. And then on the other hand we all know how bad the driving is here – people on phones, texting, driving too fast, cutting too close, overtaking on corners and never, ever using their indicators!
My condolences to all.