The teenage son of a motorcyclist killed by a careless driver has paid a heartbreaking tribute to his beloved “father, mentor and best friend”.

Shirwin Jones was the pillion passenger on his father Winston Jones’s motorbike when motorcyclist Jason Stovell ploughed into the pair, leaving Mr Jones Sr with fatal injuries.

Last week, as Stovell was jailed for 12 months after admitting causing death by careless driving, the son revealed his father’s last words at the scene of the crash were: “Take care of my son.”

In a victim impact statement read out in court Shirwin Jones, 15, said: “As much as I love my dad, I don’t want his memories — as that is all I have — but I want him and miss him desperately.

“So the impact that one careless act has left can never be filled. No amount of tears will bring him back, being angry will not bring him back, hating anyone will not bring him back.

“It will only stifle me and hinder me from living life to its fullest, which is what, if he were alive, he would want me to do.

“As an example to prove what an incredibly awesome man my dad was and will always be, on that fateful day, he was still very much concerned about me.

“As he lay there dying, he screamed out with as much strength as he could muster to ‘take care of my son’.

“Those will always be the last words that my father, mentor, best friend spoke of his unconditional love for me.”

Stovell, 26, who had a previous conviction for impaired driving and 20 demerit points on his licence at the time, crashed into Mr Jones and his son at the junction of Reid Street and Court Street in Hamilton.

The accident took place on October 18, 2014, shortly after Hurricane Gonzalo struck Bermuda, as Mr Jones drove his son to his workplace to get a shower.

Prosecutor Alan Richards told the court that Stovell had initially been treated in the Intensive Care Unit and suffered a broken leg in the crash.

“Some of the traffic lights in the city were not functioning, but those governing that intersection were operational,” he added. “The traffic light governing the westbound traffic on Reid Street was red, however, Mr Stovell failed to stop and proceeded at speed through the junction.”

Mr Richards revealed that Stovell’s bike registration and licence had expired at the time of the crash.

Stovell previously pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and causing bodily harm to Shirwin Jones by neglectful driving.

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