Cyclist killed in hit and run on Frank Sound Rd
(CNS) UPDATED: Police have now arrested the driver of a white Chevrolet Blazer involved in the fatal collision Tuesday night on Frank Sound Road that killed local cyclist – Daniel Ernest McFarlane (23) from East End. The 47-year-old man from North Side was arrested on suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident and Causing Death by Careless Driving, Wednesday.
he remains in custody as the investigations continues, police said. The second cyclist, who was injured in the collision and taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital has since been discharged.
ORIGINAL POST: One cyclist was killed and a second was injured on Tuesday night in a hit and run on the Frank Sound Road by the junction of Botanic Road. Police said that at about 9:30pm, a Chevrolet Blazer collided with the two cyclists and then left the location. The riders were taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital, where one of the cyclists was pronounced dead. The other is in critical condition.
On Wednesday morning, as police officers processed the scene, they urged Drivers to exercise caution.
More information is expected to be released shortly, including details of a collision between a vehicle and a fire truck that was en route to the accident in the Crewe Road area.
The cyclist, who is believed to be a local man from East End, is the third person in as many months to lose his life on the roads so far this year.
The incident remains under investigation and officers are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward and contact the Traffic & Roads Policing Unit at 649-6254 or the Bodden Town Police Station at 947-2220. Anonymous tips can be provided to the RCIPS Confidential Tip Line at 949-7777, or the website.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: Local News
Cyclists are more pedestrians than people in cars. I hope whoever sees this comment will do their very best to take it easy around blind corners and, for God’s sake, slow down.
The island is not some race track during the night hour.
Yeah, I bank on speeding to be the cause of this untimely death.
A motor vehicle will go faster than a bicycle.
Speeding will be the core factor in hastening an impact.
You risk lives and your own when you are too drunk to drive.
Drivers stand responsible they do not hit things while on the public road; it is called defensive driving. Please apply it.
Pedestrians/Motorists should feel free to commute as they wish.
I took the proper precautions when I learned about road dangers.
The bottom line is someone died riding a bicycle. The man was a victim of something so petty it is frustrating. This incident affects me because I enjoy cycling. Vehicles in the wrong hands can be weapons.
To unna cyclists that do not ride professionally, equip yourselves with night gear whenever possible to be seen by drivers better.
I know the commute can be decent when riding near street lights. But of course, the world ‘People’ can be unpredictable.
So be very vigilant when riding at nighttime and get home safe.
I do not want to hear my brothers or sister getting killed off on our roads only to make the news again.
‘Well, I will tell unna this regardless of gear on my head and shoulders
“I not ready meet the reaper like that.”
Have fun cycling, and be safe.
What kind of low life POS leaves someone to die in the street? Is it not at least manslaughter?
Y’all are always so quick to blame Jamaicans for the terrible driving here but IME Caymanians are just as hopeless. Here’s a clue, if everyone is passing you on you left hand side YOU’RE IN THE WRONG DAMN LANE!
To turn left at a round about signal left, get in left lane. To go straight on don’t signal and then signal left to exit. To turn right signal right get in right lane, then signal left to exit.
Basic, basic stuff you should learn on your first few lessons if you ever needed to have lessons to pass a real test, not our joke of a test.
Allegedly the Police immediately knew exactly who the driver of the Chevrolet Blazer was. On an island where a fart takes only a moment to travel shore to shore the driver wasn’t apprehended for many hours. Boy, isn’t that just super awesome and super convenient for the driver? Just enough time for someone with booze, for instance, in their system to be able to test free and clear. There should have been a call to duty to all available police to find this d-bag for allegedly leaving the scene after carelessly and recklessly destroying a life to pay full account for his/her shameless act of inhumanity.
four letters. RCMP. Guaranteed clean up. these guys don’t mess around.
that young man was stripped of 60 years of life.
Three letter FHP better than horsemen that drive cars
Another hit and run death. Every accident that makes the paper is a hit and run.
So when anyone gets hit by a car, it’s considered normal behavior to just drive away?
This is beyond disgusting. You people are disgusting.
It all comes around in the end.
in my opinion…police not doing their jobs to catch ppl committing offenses prior to accidents…more will happen…zzzz
My condolences to the family. This is indeed tragic and also inhuman to knock down two cyclists and just leave them there.
That section of road is very wide, clear sightlines and well lit. So intoxication and carelessness very likely involved.
The 500 or so police, the CoP and the Governor really need to do better to improve on the lack of consistent traffic enforcement! It’s just at an appalling level!
Sad all around
No, it’s a one-sided incident. There can be no sympathy extended for any driver in a steel cage that isn’t piloting their vehicle safely and soberly, ensuring the road and path ahead are clear, or leaving sufficient room to be prepared to stop.
Plenty bikes on ecay trade now i bet. Anyone who rides these roads is taking their life into other fools hands. Driving skills are non existent swear.
I run and jeesasi have to duck from idiots on phones orjust plain bellemds
Every Bird rider on the roadways, especially tourists, have no clue of the peril they are in. At the least, wear a bloody helmet!
Grand Cayman is NOT bike friendly amd it appears it never will be. Tis but a matter of time this tragedy occurs again.
As an experienced regular commuter rider, it’s hairy-scary, but much better than it used to be, even 2-3 years ago. The northbound bike lane section on West Bay Road is much improved from bakery to ritz. Our bike infrastructure is largely an incongruent afterthought- starting and stopping without any warning, only running one side of the road, terminating into hard curbing at roundabout choke points, and not connecting resident communities to where they need to go. There are many dangerously unlevel surfaces – eg SE Eastern Ave in front of Kirk Home. We need an urban planner to ride our main arterial roads and offer simple cost effective suggestions. This isn’t hard or expensive stuff to fix. One has to wonder why our many triathletes, cycling, tourism associations, and fleet-based business owners are not linking arms, even with recent deaths, to advocate for this basic infrastructure promised in NRA budgets since 2015. Don’t ask, don’t get.
Not so much as lack of skills, its lack of concern. Such is the world today.
Bikes are the only primary transport for at least 20,000 people in Cayman, many of them critical permit holding components of our economy. We should all want them to feel like they can come and go from work without being run over. Paint the lanes.
20k? Really?
I hardly EVER see anyone riding a bike.
In the perfect world, I would be happy to support such for the bikers, but I just don’t understand how this is benefitting the larger community and/or the traffic situation. It’s far to dangerous and hot and humid to ride bikes to work. I think the $ would be better spent on a working, reliable transit system.
Just can’t see the cost/benefit, would be happy to be wrong, but would need convincing.
Whilst I share your concern for their safety, 20,000 is simply nonsense. That’s half the workforce. Closer to 200 than 20,000!
UK does not accept Jamaican drivers’ licences. That would be a great move.
you assume they have a license in the first place…
It becomes quickly apparent at every four way stop intersection (esp HSA/WB), and select traffic circles (esp industrial park/dump road), that many dithering drivers, even those plying these routes professionally 3 or 4 times a day for years, have no idea who goes when, or why.
Trucks driving waaaay under the speed limit in the right hand lane on the by passes is really annoying. Drive left, overtake right. Signs need to be on every road with multiple lanes!!
The line-up of traffic waiting to get into the industrial park off AL Thompson’s roundabout block the left lane coming off the bypass so people in that lane of the bypass heading toward the lights veer into the right lane almost causing accidents on a daily basis.
The new Camana Bay/airport ‘connector’ road was supposed to alleviate the traffic going into the ALT roundabout. That was started 2 years ago, or more. What is the holdup getting that done?? Is it part of the DART & the ReGen project??
Local man “Caymanian”
Check the stats on
Not do they accept Cayman Islands drivers licenses.
*Nor
Really bad stuff is happening here and Cayman is in obvious decline trip advisor don’t know $#@! relatively safe for Who???
Witnessed a very unpleasant incident on public beach yesterday involving a tourist being badly assaulted by a vendor. It’s really sad what’s happening to the islands at the moment.
When did we start allowing these trashy vendors? It used to be illegal and there weren’t ANY higglers a decade ago. It was one of the few things that set our beaches above others in the region. What happened?
and our boy Kenny wants more!
That used to be one of Cayman’s attractions, that nobody got pestered by hagglers on the beach, in contrast to Jamaica.
Now we have totally ignorant politicians who scrape the bottom of the social barrel for votes.
Thanks Mac, thanks Kenny.
Far too many Jamaicans getting Status. Ruining things Caymanian.
Did you call 911? Make a report? Take video of incident as evidence?
Or are you just complaining on CNS?
I believe the police are involved.
it was reported to police immediately but the vendor ran off. tourist badly injured. rcips put nothing out.
The aggrieved tourist will have spread the word on the ship, and when at home.
Great advert for Cayman…thank you scum vendor.
Carnival passengers almost as bad as the vendors.
Overall driving in Cayman is atrocious and the police here continues to be a joke.
It’s little Jamaica
Just back from Jam and against my better judgement rented a car. Surprisingly, driving was a breeze and actually saw not one accident over my 5 days there. It seems like they have exported all the worst drivers here.
If you think it’s bad now, wait until this generation of feral kids (recall the BK fireworks boys) get their licenses to drive.
Carmageddon!
Tragic. My heart goes out to the family.
Start by increasing fines for traffic offenses to take income into account. Fines should be 1% of your pensionable income, subject to a minimum of X (the current $ fine).
Then we need an easier way to pay fines and an automatic doubling if unpaid within 30 days. Forget this arrest warrant nonsense that achieves nothing but wasting the courts’ time.
Then put speed cameras in all accident hotspots. The UK has speed cameras everywhere, including average speed cameras on highways. Speeding has been largely stamped out in many areas as a fine is inevitable.
You could also try enforcing other rules like overtaking on the right, signaling on roundabouts and stopping at crosswalks.
Or you could allow things to continue as they are. Every man for himself! Rules?! What rules?
Good idea but the problem will always be enforcement. This is how it will play out. Fine the driver, they don’t pay the fine. Suspend the driver’s licence, they drive without a licence or insurance. A driver could likely drive for years without a licence or insurance before being stopped by Police. The fancy RFID system should be able to fix this if they have portable or vehicle mounted readers like they do in other countries. The police literally drive through mall parking lots reading RFID tags and finding all kinds of outstanding tickets/warrants etc. But that is boots on the ground law enforcement.
simple? these are borderline ridiculous.
Bring in UK traffic police. Blitz the roads for months on end. Establish a properly trained unit, with at least double the officers and resources.
Jamaican license, yeah I agree, but they’ll still drive.
Resitting a stupid test won’t improve anything.
Bring in UK traffic police. Blitz the roads for months on end. Establish a properly trained unit, with at least double the officers and resources.
And establish foot patrols in at risk districts night and day. This includes beaches.
Uk police will be cheaper than building the planned new prison, at an 8 figure cost, just to make incarceration more comfortable .
Waste of money much ?
Part of the problem is the significant increase in people riding bicycles, electric bikes, scooters, mopeds, and the like. I see far too many not obeying the road code (i.e., riding with the flow of traffic rather than against it, riding with a light in front and back at night, etc.) increasing the likelihood of an accident. These are RULES not suggestions;
“12.3 LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS
Your bicycle MUST have a white front and red rear lights that are clearly visible at night from a distance of 50 yards – r.13(6)(a) TR. In addition, it MUST be fitted with a red rear reflector and amber pedal reflectors. For added visibility at night, bicycle spoke reflectors will enhance your safety.”
https://www.dvdl.gov.ky/documents/Road-Code-2012-1-2021-02-25-02-10-56.pdf
Oh yeah, the problem is too many cyclists… and not too many careless drivers and too little enforcement.
Ban the bike!!
Leaving the scene of an accident also is against the law. Why so quick to blame the victim?
THE POLICE HIERARCHY JUST DON’T CARE!! How many times do I have to say this?!
And how many times do you see people blatantly flouting the traffic law and the police ignoring them?
Or the police themselves driving incompetently: speeding, failing to indicate, driving in the wrong lane round roundabouts, etc? Where the hell do they learn to drive?!
In my view the whole traffic police control structure is wrong. If the governor, gliding along Cayman’s roads in his nice chauffeured limo, fails or refuses to see what’s right under his nose, then responsibility for the traffic police should be removed from him and given to a committee of furious, frustrated citizens who see it every day but whose voices are simply ignored.
Massive amounts of effort and money were thrown at Covid, but more people have died on our roads in the past three years than ever succumbed to the disease. Driving deaths are our real pandemic.
But you ARE supposed to “go with the flow”!
Pretty insensitive comment given that you are not in possession of facts. But we do know the driver left the scene, but somehow you ignore that. I am a daily cyclist, obey all the rules, been hit three times with two ambulance rides. I leave hurley’s but can’t use that death trap roundabout and have to cycle up to the next one just to get across to the other side of the road. Oh and before you make another assumption the drivers that hit me were prosecuted for their offence. Condolences to the family of the cyclist that was killed.
Ah…I’m pretty sure the law states you need to ride WITH the flow of traffic, not against it. If you are walking then you walk against the flow.
But you do highlight a good point with your inaccuracy…kids and adults need bicycle education and awareness education.
Laws?
Illegal window tint?
Parking on yellow lines?
No indicator usage?
Following too closely?
Speeding?
Texting and driving?
Drinking and driving?
Littering?
Overloaded lorries?
More like suggestions for selective enforcement.
Front and rear license plates
Interestingly, among other things, all vehicles must have their lights on after sunset. It’s perhaps 60-75% compliance on that score, even on vehicles with integrated hardwired head and taillights that can’t be removed. That includes professional drivers, taxi and omnibuses carrying paying passengers. No driver is allowed to run people down with impunity. There’s no wiggle room that supports manslaughter.
You are absolutely right but it’s a sad forum to air that thought. A young (probably) man has lost his life due to yet another thoughtless and ignorant driver drinking and driving.
I assume the RCIPS are currently visiting every Blazer owner Bodden Town out and checking their cars? Assuming no working CCTV in the area obviously….
Any lights on the bicycles?
Nice try with trying to assign blame to the cyclists.
Hit and run is still criminal no matter how it happened.
Why not answer your he question?
So is riding a bicycle at night without lights. Prove me wrong.
Why don’t you prove yourself right? The burden of proof always lies with the accuser.
FFS. 30 seconds is all it takes.
https://www.caymantransport.ky/upload/files/2/5e0db8f324437.PDF
Suggest you read pages 8 and 9, if you are capable.
Idiot, your focus is on the victim implying there were no lights. Yeh lets focus on that and mot the FACT that the driver left them to die!
Were there lights, as required by law, or not?
yes
Just suppose there were not. Why would the driver leave the scene?
Hit and run causing injury or death? Mandatory life sentence with no possibility of parole. No exceptions.
Accidents happen. That’s a known fact. However, a hit-and-run is not characteristics of a good person at all. Sooner than later, hopefully, you will be found out whoever you are. Know none of your excuses will be valid and nothing should spare you from a prison sentence.
a by-product of rcips not enforcing basic rules of the road.
free simple solutions to terrible driving standards:
1.bring in private run traffic police who are funded by fines.
cig will makes 10x times as much on fines.
police can then do real work or we can reduce their numbers.
win-win-win.
2. as per the uk, do not accept jamaican driving license
3. if you cause an accident or get charged with careless driving , you must automatically re-sit driving test
I didn’t realise that the UK does not accept Jamaican drivers’ licences. That would be a great move.
I would add that there should be a point system, so even the maintenance of your car is part of driving history. If you are able to drive then you should be able to have your car in good running order. The amount of cars that I see with either one or both brake lights out is astounding.
Or the number of people driving with their high beams on…
Unfortunately the standard of lessons is not good. Often see instructors in their cars with learner drivers in the wrong lane (going slowly in the passing, right hand lane), in the wrong lane on roundabouts & not using indicators. There’s no hope!
Nor is the standard of the vehicle licensing test. And nobody is realigning the headlights on imported vehicles so they’re pointing right towards drivers coming from the opposite direction instead of left towards the kerb.
Far too many of these incidents, likely due to the large number of banned drivers on the road. These ignorant people need 20 or 30 year jail sentences,the only way to keep them off the road.
Banned and unlicensed (I know so many of the latter).
Condolences to the family. This is why I will not let me children ride their bikes outside of our neighbourhood.
Nothing screams compassion and responsibility like a hit and run.
Come on people. We live on an island. Respect yourselves and one another.
Sheesh.
Motorists must provide a minimum buffer distance of 3 feet to any cyclist sharing the roadway. It doesn’t matter who has their lights on, direction of travel, or transport philosophy. Put the phones down and pay attention when piloting a moving lethal steel-caged weapon. The NRA Board for their part need to be pressed to answer why they haven’t delivered the bike lanes required in every road plan since 2015. Fire the NRA Board members that are not delivering on published and budgeted commitments – and we don’t mind if that means a whole new Board.
Fire the NRA decision makers or lack of decision. They need to be held accountable .
Two things here. I obviously don’t know the circumstances here, but the sheer number of cyclists we have here who cycle with no lights is ridiculous. They usually have dark clothes on too. For the sake of a $10 LED, get some lights. It isn’t a magic bullet, but it’ll make them a lot safer from the cell phone drivers, the ones with poor eyesight, and the generally incompetent ones.
Next point. Having driven vehicles with blue lights here (emergency ones, not clown cars like Honda Accords with rainbow lighting), I can honestly say the awareness and responses from road users goes from panic, to unawareness, to flat out stupidity.
Make it three points actually. If you hit and run, you should get the heaviest possible sentence.
Once again we have a fatal hit and run involving a cyclist.This is disgusting and unforgiveable for the driver to leave his victim dying in the road. Is there a connection with the large numbers of banned drivers ignoring the law and continuing to drive as they get away with it in the absence of any random checks?.