'I'm going to miss him'
By Mikaela Ian Pearman[
|
|
David Small Jr is shown with his mother, Eunice Lambert on October 12 at Government House where Ms Lambert had been awarded a medal for 30 years service in the Bermuda Police Service. Mr. Small died on Monday - his 19th birthday - in a road traffic accident.
|
|
|
|
The mother of the teenager who died in a road traffic accident was driving home with his birthday cake when she stumbled upon the accident and learned her only child was involved.
Eunice Lambert said she and her son, David Cyril Graham Small Jr., were planning to celebrate his 19th birthday togetheron Monday.
Instead, the Police officer was led out of her car by colleagues who escorted her to King Edward VIIMemorial Hospital (KEMH), where she was told her son was dead.
"I'm going to miss hearing him say 'mama'. I'm going to miss his snoring.
"I'm going to miss him doing the chores and I'm going to miss his company," Ms Lambert said yesterday, with tears in her eyes.
"He was a good boy and I'm grateful that God allowed me to have him for these 19 years. I just hope to see him again someday when God calls us home."
The teenager's father, David Small, is a retired Police officer.
According to Police, the Warwick resident was on a motorcycle travelling west along Warwick Lane in Warwick around 3 p.m. on Monday, when he collided with a tan Hyundai SUV coming from the opposite direction.
He was taken to the KEMH where he was pronounced dead, becoming the Island's 14th road fatality of 2008. His mother described the 19-year old as a "thoughtful" child, saying she would miss him dearly.
Speaking with The Royal Gazette yesterday afternoon in the home she shared with her son, Ms Lambert recalled him as "affectionate"; someone with a fun-loving personality who always knew how to make her laugh.
She explained she was on her way home, headed towards Warwick Lane, when she saw a Police officer who told her there had been an accident. "My first thought was, 'I hope David is home'. I had just picked him up food from Ice Queen," she said.
While in the line of traffic she was approached by her chief inspector, who stopped her from going any further. She was told there had been an accident and needed to go to the hospital.
Ms Lambert said she thought she was in good enough condition to drive, but when she stepped out of her vehicle, she lost the strength from her legs.
"I just wanted to go home and put the cake away," she added.
Ms Lambert was driven to KEMH by a colleague. Once there she was led to a special area in the Emergency Room. "Apparently the doctor wanted to talk to me. I had no knowledge of the condition of my child. When I found out he had passed, I broke down and cried," she said. Ms Lambert said her son's injuries must have been internal as the only damage to his body that she noticed was a scrape above his eye.
"I just kissed him and talked with him but he looked like he was just asleep."
Ms Lambert said Mr. Small, who attended Port Royal Primary School and The Learning Express Academy, had just helped her put up Christmas curtains on Sunday and pulled all the decorations and the tree out. "He was a very obedient child. Always willing to help no matter who it was. The other thing Ican say is that he always asked for permission when he wanted to do something," she added.Ms Lambert said her son planned to work with Marine & Ports as he was an excellent swimmer. She recalled a time when Mr. Small was at Horseshoe Bay Beach and rescued a tourist who was stranded in the water.
She said the man offered her son money for his help, but he declined. Ms Lambert said he was a sports man and loved bowling and tennis in addition to swimming.
As for birthday plans, Ms Lambert explained Mr. Small did not want a party because "he was too old for that". She said they planned to light candles on the cake she bought and sing happy birthday.
"The one thing I've always admired about him was how well-mannered he was. People used to ask me whose personality he had – not (mine)," she said with a laugh.
Following her own personal tragedy, Ms Lambert offered sound advice to young people travelling on Bermuda's roads:"I would like them to watch the way that they ride.
"Be cautious when riding and make sure you comply with the rules. Let this be an example of what could happen. A young life is lost."
The Police officer added her son was usually a cautious rider but in this instance, "made a bad judgement call".
Acting Road Safety Officer, David Minors offered the following statement: "The Road Safety Council is again saddened by the loss of another young life on our roads.
"We need to take from this particularly tragedy that we need to slow down.
"We need to not drink and drive, especially as the holiday season starts up
"During the season we need to be more aware of all of the hazards on our roads and work to make our roads as safe as possible during the holiday season."
His advice was echoed by Shadow Transport Minister Michael Fahy, who yesterday contacted The Royal Gazette to offer condolences to Mr. Small's family on behalf of the United Bermuda Party.
"It is with great sadness that I heard that another young person has died on Bermuda's roads. This is Bermuda's 14th road fatality, and is the second highest number in 20 years – 1998 saw 17 fatalities.
"I attended the ROLO remembrance ceremonies last week and was moved by the overwhelming grief in the room. We must do all we can to stop these tragedies.
"I call on all road users to drive safely and especially for young people to think before making decisions whilst driving.
"The United Bermuda Party will work with the Government and the Road Safety Council whenever possible to ensure that Bermuda's roads are as safe as possible for all road users and in that vein I reiterate our party's support in principle for the proposed graduated licensing system.
"There are also a number of other initiatives that we will push Government to consider and implement, including speed cameras and improved road lighting among others."
"I extend my heartfelt and condolences to David Small Jr.'s family and friends."
