Devoted family man Melvin Smith succumbs to his injuries after four days of fighting

By Gareth Finighan

A father of three who was hit by a car that ploughed into a camp site off Kindley Field Road over Cup Match has died from his injuries.

Melvin Smith, 51, from Billy Goat Hill (Tribe Road Number One), Warwick, was asleep in a tent with his wife, Dawn Santucci-Smith, when the vehicle careered off the road just before 6am last Saturday.

The car collided with two parked vehicles before striking the Smiths’ tent.

Mr Smith, who worked as a groundsman at Port Royal Golf Course, suffered multiple serious injuries in the smash and had spent the last four days on the intensive care unit of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Police initially said that, although Mr Smith suffered “a host of serious injuries” they were not believed to be life-threatening, while recent medical updates had suggested his condition had stabilised.

However, last night a police spokesman confirmed that Mr Smith had become the Island’s ninth road fatality of the year.

The spokesman added that Mrs Santucci-Smith was recovering from her injuries on a general ward at the hospital.

A 19-year-old motorist was later arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired in connection with the incident and police have launched “an active investigation” into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

Last night relatives and colleagues paid tribute to Mr Smith, a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church who was described as “a faithful husband and father”.

Cousin and Seventh-day Adventist chaplain Kevin Santucci told The Royal Gazette that the family was “reeling from this experience” but was also holding together through their faith.

Mr Santucci was unable to confirm reports that Mr Smith suffered from a broken neck, broken back and broken leg in the crash, but did say that he had been unconscious under heavy sedation in the last few days.

Mr Santucci also urged the community not to blame anyone for his cousin’s death, saying that Mr Smith was “a loving person” who did not believe in “an eye for an eye”.

“His last words to me personally were at the hospital on Saturday,” Mr Santucci said. “He told me he wanted me to remember a verse from Thessalonians, 5:18 — ‘In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ’.

“I think that showed that, while he recognised that he might not make it, he also recognised that we ought not to have any ill-feeling for what had happened.

“Melvin was a faithful husband and father who eschewed evil and loved mankind.

“He didn’t speak evil or negatively about anyone and he wouldn’t want to derail or undermine any individual over this.

“He was a beautiful person with a big heart, a community-minded person who loved people and would help anyone.

“At this time our family is suffering real agony, but even in the midst of it, there’s hope for the young man who was arrested and hope for us all. There is no animosity or hatred. We have no ill-feeling.

“This was an accident, it was not intentional, and while the law must be the law, we want people to realise that we are a loving people who don’t take an eye for an eye in our spirit.

“We recognise that the entire community has been affected by this and we are thankful that the community has been there for us.

“All I can ask now is that I would like the community to take time to reflect and do whatever it can do to ease the blow of this experience.”

Mr Santucci suggested that warning signs should be placed on the busy roadside during Cup Match, when the area becomes popular with campers.

“It’s an open area and people have always camped there during Cup Match,” Mr Santucci said.

“I think it would be good to consider placing signs there when people are camping to encourage motorists to reduce their speed. That would be a fitting memorial to Melvin.”

Last night a spokesman for Port Royal Golf Course said staff were “devastated” by the news of the death of their work colleague.

“As we enjoyed the Cup Match holiday weekend our mood was altered and we were all shocked to hear the news about the accident that caused injury to Melvin and his wife,” the spokesman said.

“Notwithstanding, our prayers were for their recovery and today’s sad news of his passing is a bitter pill for us to swallow.

“The trustees, management and staff extend their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Melvin as we mourn his loss.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the collision or anyone with any information to contact Pc Ian Moe 2950011.