Two Westmoreland motorcyclists die in crash

With just seven days gone in the year 2019, two motorcyclists have already lost their lives along the roadways in Westmoreland in accidents that took place just one day apart over the weekend.

Omar Noble, 24, of a McNeil Land address, and 27-year-old Richard Webster of Strathbogie, both in Westmoreland, lost their lives in separate road accidents along the Little London main road and the Torrington roadway in Hatfield.

In the first incident, which the Little London police say took place at 12:45 a.m. on Saturday, Noble and his pillion rider were travelling along the Little London main road towards Savanna-la-Mar.

On reaching a section of the Little London Square, Noble lost control of the motorcycle, which collided with a Ridgeline motor truck that was heading in the opposite direction.

The police were summoned, and upon their arrival, Noble and the wounded pillion were rushed to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital, where Noble was pronounced dead and the pillion rider was admitted.

LOST CONTROL

The following day, at 11:00 p.m., Webster was riding a motorcycle along a section of the Torrington main road when he lost control of the motorcycle and crashed into a tree.

Webster was assisted to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital, where he died while being treated.

Following both accidents, Sergeant Andy Birch, the subofficer in charge of the Area One Accident Reconstruction Unit, urged motorcyclists to take better care on the roadway, while pointing out that several motorcycle drivers had lost their lives in road accidents across the parish during 2018.

"Riders must travel within the speed limits and wear the necessary riding gear such as their helmets when travelling on a motorcycle," said Birch. "The parish of Westmoreland is seeing too many fatal accidents that involve motorcycle riders, and the police will now be using the full brunt of the law when dealing with illegal riders."

At the end of 2018, Westmoreland recorded 41 road accidents, from which 50 fatalities resulted. Westmoreland recorded 47 fatalities from 43 road accidents in 2017.