School PE teacher hit by car in critical condition

| 18/12/2020 | 53 Comments
Greg Simcoe

(CNS): Cayman International School’s physical education teacher at the primary school is in hospital in critical condition after he was run down on the West Bay road Wednesday evening. As he was crossing the road with his dog at around 6pm, Greg Simcoe was hit by a Toyota Hiace van near Cemetery Beach at the junction of Ernest Jackson Drive.

Simcoe was taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital for treatment for serious injuries, where he remains in a critical but stable condition. However, his dog was killed at the scene. The driver of the Toyota was uninjured, and the matter is currently under investigation.

The collision was one of eleven that police officers responded to that day and the RCIPS is urging drivers to follow the speed limits, avoid distractions and do not drive while under the influence. Pedestrians are also reminded to walk facing the flow of traffic, and cyclists are reminded to ride with the flow of traffic and follow the rules of the road.

“We are asking motorists to be extra vigilant when travelling on roads, especially at night,” siad Acting Superintendent Brad Ebanks. “Make sure your full attention is on driving at all times. For pedestrians and cyclists, it is important to wear light-coloured clothes, and cyclists should have reflectors and lights affixed to their bicycles.

“These pieces of equipment can be found at most hardware stores, and taking these small steps will help make our roads that much safer for everyone using them,” he added.

Anyone who witnessed this incident or who may have any information is encouraged to contact the Traffic & Roads Policing Unit at 649-6254.

Anonymous tips can be provided to the RCIPS Confidential Tip Line at 949-7777 or the police website. Tips can also be submitted anonymously via the Miami-based call centre of Crime Stoppers at 800-8477(TIPS), or online.


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Comments (53)

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  1. Wayne Jones says:

    I’m so sorry to here what happened to one of the best guys around and childhood friend. My prayers and all your high school buddies are praying and think of you. Greg I miss you buddy and love you ❤️❤️♥️
    Wayne Jones

  2. Jarret Mymko says:

    Hang in there, Simmer! Sending all our love to you!
    Jarret Mymko and family

  3. Anonymous says:

    Two nights before this horrible accident I was passing that area and noticed how dark it is!! NRA, please install another light!! Yet, there were cautionary comments about pedestrians and cyclists wearing lighter colours?! Better lighting! DUH!!

    • Anonymous says:

      Every time I drive along West Bay road at night I see a pedestrian crossing the road in the center lane and you literally cannot see them until you are right abreast of them. More lights are definitely needed the for the entire stretch of WBR.

  4. Elvis says:

    Every time I go out running I feel I take my life in my own hands especially at certain times of the year. Christmas month, valentines, Easter,
    its totally unacceptable. driving here is deplorable.
    everyone i mean everyone is texting or drunk at these times or just plain idiotic.

  5. Anonymous says:

    We love you Coach Greg..Hope you are doing better and will soon be out of hospital and well on the way to full recovery. Ms. Darcy, we are praying for you too!

  6. Emilie Wall says:

    Praying for a speedy recovery, Greg.
    Kevin and Emilie Wall

  7. Anonymous says:

    Lack of enforcement.

    It comes up daily in these threads. I have never understood the resistance to enforce policy or laws on the island. I believe this only feeds the culture of entitlement that many feel.

    There needs to be consequences for actions big and small. Your choices determine your consequences.

    Without consequences what is the result?

    And my bigger ask. When will someone in authority address the lack of enforcement culture that persists? I realize the island is a small community, but am curious what the other underlying reasons are.

    There are no winners when laws are not enforced. In fact, respect for the law, and those who enforce it, dwindles.

    • Anonymous says:

      @20/12/20 at 8:17 pm – “I believe this only feeds the culture of entitlement that many feel”. Who are you talking about? Who do you feel have a sense of entitlement? Caymanians? Are you implying that when Caymanians break the law they are not punished, hence their sense of entitlement?
      Are you implying that only Caymanians break traffic laws?

      • Anonymous says:

        Chill. No need to go full defence off the bat. They have a point, which is that Cayman suffers from an entitlement problem across the board…both Caymanians and ex-pats are guilty of it, though the basis of each differs.

        The main takeaway from 8:17’s comment should not be to to get offended, but rather that we deserve consistency of enforcement regardless of nationality or societal status.

  8. Anonymous says:

    I was run off the road today by a driver near The Lighthouse restaurant today at around10am. The drivers going to EE & Northside driving at phenomenal speeds not caring about cyclists and walkers.

  9. Bruce Little says:

    Sending tons of love for a speedy recovery from all your old friends and students in Manitoba Canada. Please update this story with any details please. We are all so concerned.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Wishing the gent. A speedy recovery. But pedestrian also need to careful. I was driving ever so slow on SMB and a couple was walking towards the flow of traffic and out of no where they jump into the road to cross. And I had to hit my brake and all they did was to laugh. There are also instances where they are walking off the side walk into the road with the dog on a long leash.

  11. Anonymous says:

    question for commisioner byrne:
    my dash cam records hundreds of incidents of dangerous driving everyday…why do you not want my footage?

    • Anonymous says:

      99% of time can’t prove that a licensed driver other than the owner wasn’t the one driving rough. There’s a law against allowing an unlicensed user but nothing against allowing someone to use it legally but dangerously.

  12. Say it like it is says:

    I suggest Supt Brad Ebanks does something about the excessive speeding that goes on every day especially where there are roads with two lanes in each direction. These maniacs use them as a race track and I notice they nearly all fit a certain profile. On the dual carriageway to West Bay today I estimate that more than 70 per cent were travelling at excessive speed, many over 60mph.They do this because there is never a police car in sight.If the police are unable to do their job then we need to instal speed cameras and I guarantee these infantile maniacs will be brought under control. The same applies to traffic lights where at every junction in the capital dozens of motorists drive through after the light has turned red, every day.. They do it with complete immunity- when if ever have the police ticketed anyone for this offence?. Again traffic light cameras would stop this practice, but I suppose it’s like the airport parking system, we are totally unable to service any sophisticated machinery so we all suffer for incompetence.

    • Anonymous says:

      Best part is the NRA installed the speed radar sign that tell you how fast you are going so that the morons can now have a real competition sponsored by the NRA

    • Anonymous says:

      There are cameras on every traffic light. Do they work? Are they monitored? well that’s the big question.

      • Anonymous says:

        Yes they work and no they are not monitored.
        They are used by the traffic light controller to detect vehicles and adjust the sequence as required.

        No one turning right?
        Then all lanes green.

  13. anon says:

    Who are these xenophobic morons/half wits who are selecting thumbs down on all the well wisher’s comments?.They need to crawl back in the crabhole they came from, and stay there.

  14. Anonymous says:

    Toyota Hi-Ace van? Why not just call it what it is?

  15. Anonymous says:

    This is a true tragedy. This man is one the Best persons walking this earth. It is no secret that being on the roads here is the biggest danger to human life. Lack of law enforcement added to the culture of disrespect, hatred, and helplessness that too many drivers here are living in have turned the roads of Cayman into what it is today and given what has always happened in the past, this is also the future. May God grant the prayers of all the good people here in Cayman and give us back our coach to health and happiness.

  16. Anonymous says:

    I wish this gentlemen a quick recovery.

    On another note CMR posting the video of the injured man is distasteful. I wait for the day the Admin of this site gets their comeuppance.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Wishing him a full recovery!

  18. Anonymous says:

    Until the police crack down properly and consistently on drunk driving, drug driving, speeding, tailgating, weaving, red light jumping, dangerous and unroadworthy vehicles, motorcyclists who ride like trick riders in a circus and others who are either not prepared or do not understand the rules of the road then these sorts of incidents sadly will continue to increase.

    • Anonymous says:

      Have you seen a police car even on the road ticketing a car? I don’t know where these resources are but they aren’t on the roads protecting the citizens, have you seen an officer with a radar gun recently? Last Christmas maybe. We need photo radar and video cameras on the roads but then, they know that

      • Anonymous says:

        The police are on the roads. See them almost daily with radar guns and ticketing traffic offenders as I travel between GT and WB. This been for months now.

  19. Anonymous says:

    We love you Coach Greg! Get better soon. We are praying for you.

  20. Larry Muirhead says:

    Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Gregg. Get well soon! Love, Linda and Larry.

  21. Billions says:

    Anyone leaving a thumb down on comments of recovery and well wishes should hang their heads in shame. Some absolutely disgraceful people in this world stealing oxygen!

    Thoughts and prayers to coach Greg, his family and friends during this already challenging time.

    • Anonymous says:

      They’re trolls, immature people who get a cheap thrill out of being “shocking”. Just keep that in mind and don’t react to them, hence the expression “don’t feed the trolls”.

    • Anonymous says:

      What goes on in some people’s brains amazes me. Well said. Wishes for a speedy recovery.

    • Anonymous says:

      its mainly for the praying

      • Anonymous says:

        Should have prayed for him not to get run over.

      • Anonymous says:

        12:28 just because praying may not be your thing or tie in with your beliefs does not mean you need to be disrespectful towards others.
        Grow up and stop being so immature.

      • Anonymous says:

        There is a comment below with two thumbs down that says nothing about praying. Just get well soon so obviously it is a nasty person.

  22. Nicole Spence says:

    Praying for a speedy recovery, Greg. Fond memories of you teaching @ Crescentview!

  23. Anonymous says:

    Praying for coach Greg. He will s a wonderful person and a great teacher.

  24. Anonymous says:

    Hang in there Coach Greg! We love you and praying for a speedy recovery!

  25. Anonymous says:

    Can’t even see the stupid sharrows in town already. Either covered in filth or faded away. One is right next to a manhole cover that wasn’t raised with the road, creating a giant pothole for everyone to swerve around, only a matter of time before a cyclist gets killed there. Another fine mess brought to you by Jokey Hew.

  26. Anonymous says:

    Such a great guy! Was my son’s Coach at CIS and all the students love him.

    Get well soon Coach! We are praying for you!

  27. Anonymous says:

    He used to be my Physical Ed teacher in Faulkner. Doubt he’d recognize me now, but I hope for a speedy recovery. People need to be more cautious.

  28. Anonymous says:

    Where are the bicycle lanes that were committed to, and budgeted for, from the NRA Plan 2015-2020? Sharrows are better than nothing, but there are supposed to bike corridors for last 5 years. Get the NICE crews sweeping and painting Joey.

    • Anonymous says:

      If you have to ask then you will never understand why it will never get done while Caymanians are in charge.

  29. Anonymous says:

    Get better soon Coach Greg

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