Crushed dreams - Trelawny teen crash victim wanted to become a footballer

Martasha Gardener is struggling to cope with the devastating loss of her niece, Tashanti Jones, a 14-year-old, grade 10 Muschett High School student who died in a car crash near Greenside, Trelawny on Friday. For Gardener, who raised Tashanti like her own daughter, the pain is unbearable.

"I grow her from she was little. She was loving, kind, everything that was good in one. Mi have her from she was a baby, and she did want to turn a footballer, to sign up on the Muschett team, but is her funeral haffi go plan now," Gardener said in a low tone while speaking to THE STAR yesterday as tears streamed down her face.

Tashanti's mother, who lives overseas, is now making arrangements to return to Jamaica.

Jones, who lived in Salt Marsh, was involved in a car crash that also claimed the life of her stepfather, 31-year-old carpenter Hoydene Flemming, and 21-year-old Brandon Gordon.

According to police reports, about 10:30 a.m., Flemming was driving his Toyota Wish motor car heading in an easterly direction when it reportedly got out of control and slammed into a wall. Flemming and Gordon died on the spot, while Jones was taken to the Falmouth Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

As at last Friday, Jamaica had recorded 290 road fatalities, according to the The Island Traffic Authority.

Meanwhile, Gardener recalled the heartbreaking moment she learned of the tragedy. She first heard about Flemming's death from her sister but had no idea her niece was also involved.

"I was twisting out my hair, and my sister called me to say that Hoydene [Flemming] was dead. I said, 'No, Hoydene can't be dead, because I just left Hoydene around the garage and he said he was going to pick up Tash and drop her at school.' Then I got the call again and they said, 'Yes, Hoydene dead,' so I ran out of the house and called my brother, and he said 'Yes, Hoydene dead,'" Gardener explained.

"Mi never have the mindset say Tash did deh in the vehicle, you know, because I did feel either she was in school already or that she would not be in the vehicle. My brother said Tash was in the vehicle, but she was alright, but I said no, I have to go up to the hospital," Gardener continued.

"I took a bus and I went up there...they led me in the room where she was, and I asked if they could not do anything to bring her back, but they said no."

Gardener shared that she had spoken to Tashanti just the night before the accident, and the teen had planned to visit her that Friday after school.

"Mi see her Thursday night, and she said she was going to come down here on Friday, in the evening after she left school, to come and stay with me, and mi say all right," said Gardener. "We just a try hold it now, just have to gwaan hold the faith."