French quarter:--- A 23 year old motor cyclist lost his life on Wednesday night due to a hit and run accident. The victim has been identified as Malvin Lake Hodge. Hodge’s death is the second scooter rider that was killed due to hit and run drivers. Just last month Ricardo Gumbs lost his life after being hit off, of his scooter, which eventually caught fire due to the impact.
According to a press release from the gendarmerie, an accident between a motorist and scooter rider occurred about 6:25 pm at the entrance of Orient Bay.
The driver of the vehicle did not stop, while the victim was transported to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital where he died of his injuries. An investigation is now underway to determine the exact cause of the accident and to locate the hit and run driver. The gendarmes said that this is fourth motorcyclist that was killed on the roads on the French side for the year.
Three of the four persons were killed on St. Maarten while one on St. Barths. The gendarmes believe that these persons were killed because somehow they are maneuvering on the public roads carelessly as they demonstrate the vulnerability of the two wheels. The accidents occurred on July 5, July 31, and August 26.
So far, for the year there have been seven serious accidents with three fatalities. The gendarmes believe that due to the severity of these accident road users should begin to exercise caution. They have issued a special call to motorcyclist and scooter riders especially those who are bent on showing their skills on two wheels to exercise caution.
