Fire fighter jailed for 18 months over serious crash
Colburn Martin
(CNS): Colburn Martin (26), a fire officer from Cayman Brac, was sent to jail Monday after receiving an 18-month prison term for a drunken head-on collision on the Sister Islands in the summer of 2016, in which a high school vice-principal was very badly injured. In a rare case for the Grand Court to hear, Martin was charged with dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen in connection with the crash that left the victim with a catalog of serious injuries from which she is still recovering.
The crown told the judge that prosecutors had sought to bring the case to the higher court as they believed the custody threshold had been reached. Justice Michael Wood agreed and jailed Martin for two years, the maximum under the law, which was cut to 18 months for his, albeit late, guilty plea.
As crown counsel Kenneth Ferguson set out the facts of the case, he told the court that a few seconds before the crash, Martin had been driving his vehicle at more than 74mph on the South Side of Cayman Brac, where the speed limit is 40mph.
Although Martin refused to provide a breath test after the crash and a blood sample at the hospital and was charged for that refusal, he did admit to drinking before the smash, which happened at around 7:00pm on 2 July 2016. Police also found several empty beer cans and bottles in his car.
The court heard that Martin had a drinking problem and at the time of the collision he was on bail for DUI, though that case was never pursued.
The woman whose vehicle was hit by Martin was trapped in the car for more than an hour while Martin’s fire fighting colleagues cut her from the car. In a victim impact report to the court, she said that she did not believe she would ever truly recover and her life had been turned upside down by the injuries, which included breaking her legs, hip, hands and ribs, as well as sustaining many lacerations and a punctured lung.
The judge said that the case was one of the worst possible cases of dangerous driving, with a number of aggravating factors, including speed and drinking and driving. He said the injuries to the victim were catastrophic and she was fortunate to be alive.
As he handed down the jail time for the dangerous driving, the judge also banned Martin from driving for three years. He placed him on a community service rehabilitation order for two years after he is released from jail as a result of his refusal to provide a specimen.
God will put you back together right in front of the people that broke you down.-Sister
People need to realize.. yes, he may not be a bad person, but he made a bad choice. His choice that night nearly costed someone her life. Every action leads to a consequence, whether good or bad. Although Colburn is loved by his friends and family, that does not mean his punishment isn’t just. Friends and family can not expect him to go unpunished.
Instead of arguing whether he’s a good person or deserves this or that, we as a community need to pray. We need to pray that Ms. Austin continues to recover, and that Colburn continues to seek help once he serves his time and turns his life around.
Exactly just that ! ??
Need more people like you on this island but unfortunately it’s never gonna change. Bunch of crabs in a bucket with no sense! Great words??
Not Only Criminals Go To Jail……..See Una Like put down People That Been To Jail But Never Know Your Same Child Can End Up In Jail To…as Simple As It Is…He Deserve That They Think They Better Than People Cause They Have A fireman Job…Tek Dat
Lordeth have mercy… No No sweety we don’t think not once we are better than anyone, but to be honest Typing how you speak, I’m most sure we don’t associate with you. Think this is more of a personal problem. Get help and closure. Bless day.
I will just put this here:
If you get drunk and do something, that is NOT an accident.
– Anonymous
Well said. The apologist friends ranting on this thread should know that they are part of the cancerous attitude to drink driving in Cayman.
And you are just a cancer in itself to this island with that typical disgusting attitude and personality! You don’t even know the people in this situation but have so much to say. LMAO sigh. I can’t with you people
Whether you know the person or not has nothing to do with it Jethro,
You get drunk and do something, you are fully, 100% RESPONSIBLE.
R. E. S. P. O. N. S. I. B. L. E.
Lol OK RCIPS. Nobody didn’t say what he did wasn’t wrong, BUT IT WAS NOT DONE DELIBERATELY like how you people are making it seem!!! He is taking consequences for his actions but that’s something you do NOT know about just like the rest of this situation. They should give you a job at court or this news article, pulling information right out y’all rear ends and making the most ridiculous statements and assumptions. Go be MISERABLE with yourself and your miserable life somewhere else please and thanks! Smfhhhhhh.
I am so very disappointed in a lot of the comments on here! For a few reasons.
This young man WAS in fact, indeed and in truth a danger to himself and to innocent people driving on the road that night. Regardless of who he hit! I am so very sure if that was you, your mother, father, sister, brother or CHILD who sustained the injuries Ms. Austin had you would certainly not be on here upset about a jail sentence! Not one of you on here visited her in the hospital for the months she was at Shetty’s. I went there 4 times to see her and could not bring myself to go in her room because you could hear her screams and cries from down the hall from the pain of almost every single bone in her body being broken!! Everyday for weeks!!! She could not do one thing for herself. She WAS bedridden for almost a year!!! He put her in a jail at the hospital and in writhing pain! The hospital had to keep sedating her when possible because the human body would have gone into shock from the pain she was experiencing. They couldn’t always do this because it would have had an adverse effect and sent her in to a coma. So she had to stay awake screaming from the pain. Her poor Sister had to sit there every single day and night listening to her screams and cries!!! Not being able to go home, use the bathroom or even use your hands or legs!
Stop your none-sense of saying people don’t know Colburn etc! No one is saying that he is a bad person because yes we all make mistakes in life and not one of us are perfect! However, justice is justice! If he were responsible, he would have sought counseling for his alcohol abuse before this accident. Not after. He did almost kill the woman. But God was so gracious he spared her life and Colburn’s! I suppose if she had died you would all be moaning just the same for the little slap on the wrist!
This is sad for both of them, but necessary for him. He is not a child but an adult, as adults we take responsibility for our actions.
God Bless them both!
Driving drunk = bad person. There, I said he was a bad person. And how he behaved after the accident right up to now, as reported in the story, that is what bad people do too.
All these local apologists standing up for their dear “Collie” saying “he is a good young man and not a risk to any public” seem oblivious to the words of an experienced and independent judge whose actual words in court referred to the case “as one of the worst possible cases of dangerous driving, with a number of aggravating factors including speed and drinking and driving and that the injuries to the victim were catastophic and she was fortunate to be alive”.You could not hear a more damning indictment of a defendant, yet because he was Caymanian these people have the temerity to stand up for him.
Drunk drivers are all selfish pond life. I don’t need to meet him. But his behaviour from the accident date to the last second admission of guilt when there was no prospect of acquittal are consistent with a selfish man trying to get off for his terrible selfish crime.
An Immigration officer runs over and kills a man on a bicycle in a hit and run accident and had to be traced through an intense police investigation and literally gets no prison time (3 months) yet this man goes for 18 months. No consistency.
You’re right. They both should have gotten 5-10
Empty the prison, everyone in there was screwed by the immigration guys light sentence. Not!
You’re a moron. The immigration officer should’ve gotten 5-10 or more. Although Colburn caused this lady a great deal of pain and suffering, she is still alive and able to work for herself. The maximum sentence he could’ve gotten was 2 years and I’m assuming the judge reduced that sentence because Colburn literally turned his life around after that accident.
Personally, I think it’s sad on both ends. The victim has to live with the damage that Mr. Martin caused, and he has to live with the guilt of it. Though the fact still remains that his punishment is just. Yes, it could have happened to anyone, but if he were not drinking and driving it would not have happened at all.
He’s not living with any guilt. He refused to provide a blood sample and take a breathalyzer test which means he knew he was guilty and wanted to make it difficult for the prosecutors.
im really not going to entertain this anonymous shit, because obviously your opinions are way out of wack to what really took place, hit your head as hard as you can then let me push this breathalyzer on you see if you’d be in your right senses to either accept it or refuse it. Then we can determine who feels Guilty.
who cares if someone gives their name or not…what are you going to do????…zzzzzzzzzzz
Ha
Hi hello internet troll news bug whatever you are,did I make a threat or said I was going to do anything?! Would be great to know who I’m talking with since everyone have plenty to say.
THANK YOU WHOEVER U R…..
For all those people out there who obviously don’t know all the facts. I hope this will help u all have a better picture of what happened and who Colburn really is. First of all let’s make it clear that he has never tried to not take responsibility for his actions he has from the very beginning felt remorse for causing injury to the lady. Colburn has taken it upon himself to stop drinking and attend meetings without being ordered by court to do so. (This shows responsibility and even a great level of maturity) . I have read comments about his first DUI offence and why he wasn’t punished for that. Well he was punished for it by the courts, so for those who think otherwise you all are wrong. And here is a little more info on that case. Colburn was not driving and was pulled over by police he had parked his car off to the side of the road when he knew he was not able to drive it home in a responsible manner. He was then picked up by police after they found him sitting behind the wheel. The police could have simply taken him and let him return at a later time to get his car but instead they decided to charge him with DUI. As for the lady who was injured she has recovered to where she has returned back to work. I am not trying to say that she is in perfect health and that it was not and still not a tramaitc event for her all I am trying to show is that she is not bedridden or unable to be self sufficient. May God continue to bless her and May she continue to recover to where there is no more effects to her body. May I also add that she has expressed the very best for Colburn and wishes that he was not incarcerated. Now I am not saying that he should not have some sort of punishment but to put this young man in prison serves to help no one. I am not even saying that sentence is too hard but it should have been suspended and he be made to continue rehabilitation. I hope this will clear up a lot of the inconsistency that have been reported and also that the negative comments will stop. Colburn is a good young man who addmited he made mistakes and has been doing his best to learn from them so that he won’t repeat them. Stay strong Collie praying that all works out for you bro.
The most sensible comment I’ve seen on here yet! ROUND OF APPLAUSE!!
this comment probably sums up everything wrong with cayman society and attitudes drink driving.
Speeding dangerously in a car is like waving a loaded gun around carelessly. No pitty for the fool who shoots himself and none here. Good riddance, the road will be that much more safe with him off of it.
Whoa. He was in a car drunk. If he was not driving it doesn’t matter. He was in the drivers seat with keys, that’s intent buddy. So he should have no license, but he’s driving drunk again and almost kills someone. Hmm, he should be banned from driving for 5 years and in jail for at least 2.
The point I was making was that everybody is saying that he is not taking responsibility for the accident but he showed responsibility by not driving that night but he still was arrested for DUI and convicted. Yes he has made mistakes but for people to comment here about he has no remorse and that he has not taken responsibility for his mistakes is completely wrong. He has shown remorse from day one and has even took it upon himself to seek help. He is a good young man who made a terrible mistake that evening which changed the lives of the lady and him forever. So for people to sit here and say he has no remorse is totally wrong.
All of you XXXXXX if it was you or someone you were close to in the same situation, you’d beg, cry and pray to your non-existent god for a shorter sentencing. You all don’t know the entire story, so I don’t understand why you talk on it the way you do. Grand Cayman has so much for its people to do, yet look at how much of you get into drunken state and car crashes. For those of you that know, Cayman Brac doesn’t have much for its people, so a lot of the community turns to associating at the bars and drinking, yet there are still less alcohol related accidents. YET ALONE FATAL. What happened is definitely unfortunate, but at least both drivers are alive. Colburn is a pretty decent guy and I hope this turns experience turns his life around.
We all make mistakes , that’s correct , problem is when we do make them , others should not be the ones that suffer !
Best comment on this article, posted by Bertie.
1:21 pm
Thank you Bertie, well said. Point in case.
Why is it that all of you have something to say but can’t actual list your names but hide behind Anonymous lol cayman problems,love humiliating, judging and disgracing people,as serious as this is, Colburn Martin is not a bad person or risk to any public,all of you have something to say but can’t correct or see your own mistakes.. get a life or continue hiding!! This could’ve happened to anyone!! His life will also never be the same, he was man enough to take responsibility for his actions, most of you can’t even take responsibility for your own.
Belinda, of course his life will be the same, once he’s out of jail he will be drinking again and forget all about his poor victim. the poor lady he crippled for life is the one whose life will never be the same.Why don’t you visit with her and see the lifetime consequences of the actions of this two time drunkard.
As for being “man enough to take responsibility for his actions – are you serious?, – he pleaded guilty only to save himself from an extra 6 months in jail.
See it like it is seriously ?! Did you go and see her?! Sounding like you did to me, listen the lady is not “cripple” she’s in recovery thankfully, the news will make it sound 30x worst than what it really is dramtic much however, two time drunkard?! Do you know colburn personally?! Also sounding like you do,because since you seem to know hella much did you also know that he didn’t drink since the accident how long ago was the accident? I’m sure you know,knowing everything else)and that he seeked professional help,I know this because I took him there.so don’t tell me his life will be the same anything,yes it’s a sad situation it was also a nightmare to him being the “poor” lady was his former teacher which they had a relationship he was devastated, everyone has an opinion not knowing the situation deeper, he is no coward, he seeked and got the helped he needed let’s see how many drunkards will actually do that in cayman.
FYI, this woman is NOT crippled for life. She is working, alive & well. She walks with a limp but she still has her LIFE! By no means was this young man right for what he did, but why don’t you all criticize the drunk drivers who take lives in an instant OR leave them on the roadside to DIE while they try to hide the evidence?! Please stop judging and talking FOOLISHNESS when you know NOTHING NEAR THE FACTS! you are only making yourself look stupid! if you have nothing GOOD to say, SAY NOTHING!! Remember, “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt!”
Sooooooo let’s let her bash one of his legs in so he walks with a limp for life..and let’s do the same to yours since it’s not a big deal…
Azz
Why so evil and corrupt. Whow prayers really needed!! Not even for the 2 actual people this is about but the commenters
Don’t need your prayers, just equal justice for the guilty parties on all three islands who commit crimes. Don’t believe in god so the prayers would be wasted.
Don’t believe in God? Smh.. only thing wasted here was your poor fathers sperm.
Why don’t you shut the hell up, get from behind the computer commenting on people business and go find something productive to do with your life! Disgusting, you caymanians always throwing in una 2 cents when una don’t even know what happened!!
Yes “Nisha”…..this Cay-man-i-an will continue to spit out my 50 cents on whatever I want to speak of; this is my home Country and we are all in this together!
So, instead of hating people for having differentiating opinions to yours, grow-up and add something of substance to the dialect!
Lastly, need I remind you, that all fire-men are civil servants by law, and are expected to uphold the laws; all of which have a code of conduct to adhere to!
What happened is the a selfish man drove drunk and very seriously injured an innocent person. And then he did not have the decency to plead guilty until the very last opportunity when he knew there was no way he could evade justice. People who plead at that time do it to reduce their punishment not for any good moral reasons.
Unfortunately it is very unlikely that he will change.
Why because you couldn’t change?! Lol
Belinda,
If he killed her, which he almost did, would you be saying the same thing to her family? Or better yet why don’t you call her family now and tell them he is not a bad guy?
But he didn’t thankfully!! Now what?! Why you wishing the worst when it didn’t happen!! Smh
Hold on…. did you say he is not a risk to the public…?? Please stop commenting
He clearly is ” a risk to any public”.
Why you don’t get off this news article and go do something productive with your time instead of coming online as ANNONYMOUS to bully people and talk down on situations you know not one thing about??? Only real coward on here is YOU. Why you don’t go chat about the coke/weed head couins/aunts/uncles/children YOU GA??? bet you won’t chat that! Disgusting! MY NAME IS ON HERE JUST IN CASE YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TO ME!!!!!!! Have a nice day.
Your DUMBNESS is a risk to public!! Get a life!!
This idea that anonymous opinions hold no weight is another great talking point from this era
Cayman is a tiny jurisdiction where most people are one or two personal connections from most other peoples, friend groups intermingle, families are large and spread out and even if you happen to have a common name here there are only so many Boddens and Ebanks and you can easily be identified with a quick facebook search
People around the world are punished for their opinions whether that be job loss or other economic sanctions along with things like social stigma
We all know examples of this here on Cayman the Sandra Hill’s and Kerry Tibbett’s (and while they have certainly both earned their reputations whether you think they are good or bad) No one wants to end up like them in that position
Yet we act as if the completely logical and rational forum that CNS provides in its comments are detrimental when they are in fact conducive for an honest even if harsh reality
Judge each comment based on its own merits instead of painting with broad strokes about anonymous comments cause it happens to be someone you know being derided
Your friend deserves every one of these comments and a lot worse
Ok ANONYMOUS!! and who are YOU to sit there and feel big enough to tell someone what they deserve! Its people like you who needs to get off Facebook and these type of articles and find something productive to do with your time. Let’s see how you feel when people bash you! I bet you’re some 40 something year old pushing your nose in people business all the time, AND you deserve the worst karma for wishing bad on people you don’t even know! Hope you Lose someone very close to you in an unfair way! Let’s say you’d deserve that too!! Let’s see how YOU like it
DUDE, 4:49 pm
You’re “anonymous” too!
Like, are you insane? OR 11 years old? OR both?
Take this shit down!! All of the disgusting comments made out of not actual knowing what took place this could’ve happened to anyone !! Disgusted bunch of crabs in a bucket!!
Yes, imagine judging a drunk driver who behaved like a coward and caused life-changing injuries to an innocent woman!
Ok anonymous
Yes, imagine anonymously judging a drunk driver who behaved like a coward and caused life-changing injuries to an innocent woman!
It could NOT happen to anyone because most of us would not dream of drinking and driving.
Stop making excuses and grow up. What took place is all right there in the article. It’s not something that “could happen to anyone” because at least some of us aren’t drunk behind the wheel.
Omg get a life! No one is saying getting behind the wheel intoxicated is right ! What are you trying to prove *rolleyes*
No, it could not have happened to “anyone.” I, for sure, make a serious and conscious effort to NOT drink and drive. I make arrangements beforehand, or if I find myself unable to drive, I leave my car where it is and get a ride/taxi home. This SURE AS HELL would not happen to me, or anyone else who shares these values.
Too short a sentence. There needs to be more road blocks checking for DUI.
The Crown must appeal the sentence!!!!
Why does it take almost 2 years to conclude such a case?
Because the coward tried to get off and did not plead guilty until it was just before trial when he knew the evidence was overwhelming.
Only coward here is you “Anonymous” 🙂
And firemen keep asking why they don’t get respect. Respect is earned!!
Shame on you Martin you are suppose to be helping to save lives!! At least he didn’t blame buju!!
Make sure your whole life you live perfect. But to me your already too shame to reveal your name.
You’re only Belinda. Say your whole name if your so anti anonymous
This has nothing to do with Martin being a fireman, there are lots of firemen who don’t drink and drive, I’m a fireman I get respect where ever I go. Was he wrong? yes he was.
Instead of making it about fireman take the time you took to make such a silly statement to educate young men about the consequences of their actions.
18 months for selfishly destroying someone’s life? Not nearly enough. I hope Hell has a special place for the souls of those like him.
Only souls going to hell are those like yourself who sit behind a screen and judge people based on news and mistakes.
It was an accident. Yes, it could’ve been avoided had he been more responsible but what is done cannot be undone. The victim herself knows the KIND SOUL Colburn is as she taught him for many years and despite her life changing predicament has nothing bad to say about him.
Again, people make mistakes. No one is perfect and I’m sure he will learn from this.
I understand it is upsetting but who are any of you to cast judgement on someone you have nooo clue about then sit here and “hope there is a place in hell for souls like his”
Be careful what you say.. things have a way of firing back on you or your loved ones.
We Love You Colly!
Anonymous
Gabby 11:37am you might want to stop speaking on behalf of Mr. Martin’s victim. I did meet this lovely lady lately. I noted her difficulty in descending a set of stairs, something she has to do a few times per day at her place of work, and commented that knee injuries can be a bother. She shared that she had been in a car accident with a drunk driver and the length of time it took to free her from the wreckage of her car. She spoke of being told by learned doctors that she might never walk again. Think of that for a moment. She spoke of her determination to learn to walk again. Something we learn to do very early and have no recollection of learning to do the first time around. Think of that for a moment. She spoke of her determination to move her hands. She spoke of being thankful that she recovered and able to resume her life – now with a noticeable limb. This lady is not the same. Think of that. A joint injury, if you have every had one, is difficult, as arthritis is most certainly a higher possibility as she ages. Please stop speaking for Mr. Martin’s victim as if she was a willing participant or that she doesn’t mind what happened to her because she is alive. Her life was affected. Mr. Martin’s actions took something from her. If you love him, like you seem to do, then allow him to take responsibility for his actions. He is an adult male, He chose to drink. He choose to get behind the wheel of his car. He had an accident. These actions, all his, caused his high school teacher real injuries. His actions have left difficulties, in a split second, in her life that she never thought she would encounter. Go by the school. Watch her go up and down those stairs a few times per day. Watch her get in and out of her car. Watch her winch when the weather changes. Your loved one caused injury to someone else’s loved one. Stop defending him. Let him own this. Hopefully this 18-month period will be his “Ah-ha moment”. Stop enabling him. He doesn’t need that. Perhaps you could take these 18-months to seek help for yourself.
A very good post and quite understood, he’s in jail doing his time now. The judge sentenced him so can the public please stop lynching him now?
Understood and for clarification I wasn’t trying to defend his actions.
If you read above my comment, someone is wishing him a spot in “hell”. If there is a place called hell and if it is as bad as they say it is, many can agree that it’s an unfair thing to say.
Colburn and our family are extremely regretful for what happen as most of us know Ms. Austin personally. Yes, I agree that we should make effort to see her and understand her pain and suffering. Help her etc.
I’ll take that into consideration upon my next visit to the Brac. Feel free to contact me if you’d like an update on that.
Back to my point. If you don’t know someone personally and you don’t have anything good to say.. you can finish the sentence. I say this for everybody and not just persons close to me.
To further prove my point, I have been “seeking help” for the past 18 months for my own personal problems. So again, if you don’t know people close enough to state facts then do the world a favor and keep quiet.
Bashing someone won’t help them. Nor will it heal the victim.
-“To Each Be Their Own”
If he was drunk, it WAS NOT an accident.
I’ll pray for you you scumbag..
How is this selfish when it was an accident an not deliberate?! Smh
Allowing oneself to become drunk and then drive is a collision waiting to happen not really an accident.
To 3:40 . Hell has a place for all of us that choose to go there, and Christ died for all including Martin , I know this can’t be easy ,but why do we always choose to hate instead of forgiving ? What a heavy load we bear when we carry round unforgiveness ,,,.forgive as Christ would do you ,
Just loving these comments. How come a very prominent young man who killed a pedestrian, a mother of two, on the south sound road (30 mph) and was drunk because he tested so, was sentenced to only 24 months. He served a mere 12 months and has already been released on parole. Also after serving about 6 months he was allowed to leave the prison daily and go to work and return to the prison at night. My point is not whether the sentence is too short or too long but that there is no consistency in the sentencing of people in these incidents it looks as if it is who you know or who you are or who knows you. Does not seem like justice is being fairly served
The lady he injured is truly the must humble and kind-hearted woman you could ever meet. I’m glad justice has finally been served.
Colburn I hope you learn from this experience and behave your self while you are inside northward cause you can sometimes be arrogant and stubborn so make this be a wake up call for you and your buddies..
I hope his insurance company is paying medical bills including pain medicine and lost of income for that poor lady.
The Crown Must appeal!! This sentence is not just for the victim.
Good
Whatever happened to the guy that drove through the liquor store?
Above the law.
got off scotch free ofcourse
Sentence is too little for the damage he did.
She’s alive, the one that the Custom Officer killed is still dead, what did he get again? Oh yea 3 months!!
Finally, a proper sentence for unrepentant DUI maiming.
Why wasn’t he charged when on bail for DUI?This may have prevented the life threatening accident.
FYI, He was charged for this DUI which is why he has no drivers license at the moment. Cayman News Service needs to get their facts straight!
Then 18 months is way to lenient of a punishment.
This is a travesty, for what the judge rightly descrribed as one of the worst possible cases of dangerous driving. This disgrace to his country will serve just a year in jail. Driving drunk at 75mph in a 40mph zone, driving whilst on bail for DUI and crippling a poor woman for life with catastophic injuries is as bad as it gets.The law absolutely has to be changed to provide for a sentence which should have been 10 years at least.Just imagine the uproar if this had been an expatriate and the victim, a local.
A serious sentence for a serious offense. Thanks Judge. Wonder what happened to that other DUI? Whoever let that slide should feel some guilt about this accident.
Dang, hope you guys are not caymanians remember a while back a custom officer killed a man and went home and tried to hide it yes killed him and got 3 months but you guys killing this lttlel 26 year old gonna pray for you guys…
Correct i think the customs or immigration (cannot remember which one) officer’s last name was Tibbetts. Apparently the victim was a no body so the sentence was not long at all.
So the customs officer should have gotten more. So what? Life is like that sometimes, but this dude got exactly what he deserved. Have to start somewhere.
Pray for the dude going to jail, I don’t need it.