Cole Bay: --- Relatives including eleven children are now mourning the tragic death of their father and loved one Sylvester Cuthbert Hazel 45 of the island of Dominica.
According to Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein, the deceased was driving along Union Road heading towards Marigot when he lost control of his red pick up truck. Stein said when the driver lost control of the vehicle he slammed into a wall breaking it down, the vehicle he said came to a stop in a garden behind the wall, it appeared that the driver died instantly from the injuries he sustained.
Stein said the accident so far looked one sided and that the driver and now deceased simply lost control of the vehicle and the driver was not wearing a seat belt. The accident took place near ORCO bank Stein said.
Firefighters and the rescue team took over two hours trying to remove the body from the mangled pick up truck said his relatives.
In the meantime, the bereaved relatives including the girlfriend of the deceased are somewhat angry. The relatives said their brother had already reached home in French Quarter when someone called him out to continue their weekend lime.
It is believed Hazel was heading towards Bellevue where a bicycle or motorcycle race was about to start. SMN News further understands that Hazel and his drinking friends would meet at a location in Bellevue where they would end off their weekend sporting. SMN News was reliably informed that Hazel and his girlfriend had an argument when she learnt that he left the house to go sporting since only some weeks ago, he had an accident and total loss his vehicle, which he repaired.
The source said Hazel drove off leaving his girlfriend when she was pleading with him not to go anywhere. SMN News further understand the young woman was at the Star Mart Service Station in Cole Bay and she wanted to go along with her boyfriend but he drove off leaving her there and shortly after he ended up killing himself in the accident.
The sisters of the dead man said their brother who is now dead normally falls asleep behind the wheel especially when he is out all night. They believed that their brother who has a habit of sleeping on himself fell asleep behind the wheel that caused his instant and tragic death.
In a statement police spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard said the driver was allegedly driving at high speed when for some unknown reason the driver went off the road on the right hand side then he crossed back the road and hit on a heap of rocks before going airborne. Leonard said based on statements received from eyewitnesses the vehicle then landed back on the road and was on two wheels and continue driving before hitting into a wall. The police spokesman said after that the vehicle landed in a yard and the driver seemingly died from multiple head injuries.
Hazel leaves to mourn his eleven children, both his parents and siblings on St. Maarten and abroad.
