The first road fatality of 2005 affected the Island in many ways, not only those who knew the young victim Scott Gibbons (pictured, below), but also visitors and residents who found themselves caught up in traffic jams that effectively cut off the east end of the Island and led to the Government deploying fast ferries from Hamilton to St. George?s.

Former Bailey?s Bay Cricket Club player Mr. Gibbons, 34, was riding his motorbike west along the Causeway when he encountered heavy traffic caused by a broken down Works and Engineering truck on the Causeway on February 7.

As he tried to find a way through his bike hit two cars travelling in opposite directions on the road and Mr. Gibbons was thrown from his machine and hit one of the concrete walls at the side of the road.

He suffered head injuries and was pronounced dead at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital less than an hour later.

The drama had widespread implications as it cut off Bermuda International Airport and left many travellers stranded on the wrong side of the Causeway.

Commuters waited in subdued silence, knowing something serious had happened.

A Works and Engineering truck, travelling west on the Causeway, had suffered a puncture to its front right tyre 300 metres from Blue Hole Hill in St. George?s earlier in the morning.

The driver got out of the vehicle and diverted traffic around his truck. Witnesses said Mr. Gibbons? motorcycle was travelling west and was overtaking cars in an attempt to negotiate through the traffic jam.

Just before he reached the truck shortly before 9.15 a.m. he collided with two cars. The motorcycle remained trapped between the cars, but Mr. Gibbons was thrown against the Causeway wall.

Traffic was backed up for miles on either side of the Causeway as Police and Fire investigators conducted a two-hour investigation into the scene, but the Government reacted quickly to the forced closure of the Causeway, whipping a dramatic rescue plan into action to convey stranded airline passengers to St. George?s and the Bermuda International Airport.

Unaware of the reason behind the traffic jam, some unlucky airline passengers eventually abandoned their vehicles and several attempted to walk to the Causeway just minutes before it was re-opened, pulling their luggage behind them.

However, the Ministry of Transport and Tourism saved the schedules of most travellers.

Two high-speed ferries were placed on call running back and forth between Albuoys Point in Hamilton and Marginal Wharf in St. George?s just over an hour after the accident occurred. The ferries were met by Public Transportation buses at Marginal Wharf which then transferred the travellers to the Airport.

Incoming passengers were able to travel on the return ferry from Marginal Wharf to Albuoys Point.

The Bailey?s Bay Cricket Club bade farewell to promising young groundsman Mr. Gibbons, when he was laid to rest at Holy Trinity Church in Hamilton Parish following a funeral service at nearby St.John?s AME Church on Wilkinson Avenue, Bailey?s Bay.

The former Bay left-handed all-rounder and dedicated club member was the brother-in-law of Social Club and St.George?s Cricket Club Cup Match batsman, Glenn Blakeney.

?Scott was a very dedicated member who loved Bailey?s Bay and was willing to assist in any way that was possible,? recalled Bay president, cousin and godfather of the deceased, Stuart Hollis.

?He had hopes of becoming our main groundsman and we were thinking about sending him away to school because he loved it so much.

?Scott just loved being around Bay helping out in any way that he could. And I can honestly tell you that Scott was well loved in Bay.

?He was my first godson and I loved him. Scott wasn?t a perfect person ... nobody is. But the heart is what a man is judged by and Scott certainly had a very big heart.?

Brother-in-law Mr. Blakeney recalled how Gibbons, cousin of former Bay skipper Noel, once spurred the team to victory batting at the rear.

?I remember one particular time playing at Southampton Oval. Rangers only needed one more wicket to win the match while we needed 15 runs or something like that,? recalled an emotional Blakeney, struggling to find words.

?He and Trent Simmons took us all the way to the end and we managed to win the game. I also played with Scott at Hamilton Parish.?

In the summer of 2004 Mr. Gibbons received valuable pointers from senior groundsman, Sheridan Raynor, at Sea Breeze Oval.

?He had told me that he was interested in doing the pitch down there (Sea Breeze). But I didn?t believe him until one day I actually saw him prepare the pitch,? added Mr. Blakeney.

?He told me that was something that he really wanted to do and I encouraged him to continue doing it and learn as much as he could.?