French Quarter:--- Several friends and motorcycle riders that participate in the illegal motorcycle races every Sunday morning on RN7 (French Quarter) are in shock and disbelief regarding the death of Chris Smith who was involved in a fatal accident on Sunday morning.
Relatives and friends of Chris Smith (36) a national of St. Lucia confirmed to SMN News that Smith passed away around 1:30pm Sunday afternoon as doctors and other medical professionals were working diligently to stabilize him before they could evacuate him to one of the neighboring islands. Smith leaves to mourn his brother and girlfriend both residing on St. Maarten and his daughter who lives in St. Lucia. Several of his co-workers from Reysil Construction and his boss Toochie Meyers gathered at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital hoping that Smith would have survived. He is known to be someone that is very friendly and a dedicated worker.
According to information provided by eyewitnesses, Smith crashed into a grey Hyundai Tucson P-3997 as he was leaving the racing area on French Quarter's main road. The accident took place close to Belle Plein.
One of the eyewitnesses and friend of Chris Smith said that Chris was riding a red motorcycle that belongs to Craig Bush. The eyewitness further explained that at the time of the accident, Smith was not racing, he was leaving the area to go home. The eyewitness said that there were about five vehicles that had stopped on the road while the driver of the grey Hyundai Tucson P-3997 pulled her vehicle out of the line and tried to overtake. At that point, she slammed into the motorcycle that Smith was riding. The eyewitness further explained that Smith was riding at high speed and when he hit the jeep he went airborne and slammed into a red gate. Three women who also witnessed the accident said that the rider of the bike landed on a red gate and his bones on both feet and hands were all broken and protruding out. The women said that Smith had several long cuts about his legs and hands while some of his teeth were also broken out. On the scene, SMN News reporter noticed some bone splinters and blood on the gate where the victim landed.
Preliminary reports stated that Smith was in critical condition while a male child that was inside the Hyundai Tucson was also injured. A woman on the scene described the driver of the jeep as being impatient or someone who has road rage because she did not think of her son when she tried to overtake the vehicles that were stopped in front of her. SMN News learnt that the owner of the jeep is a supervisor at Checkmate Security.
Commandant of the Gendarmerie Paul Betaille told SMN News that the victim was transported to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital where medical professionals were trying their best to stabilize him so that he could be evacuated overseas for further medical treatment. However, Smith passed away before that could have happened.
The Head of the Gendarmerie said he did not have any update on the male child that was injured during the early morning accident. He said that an investigation into the accident has been opened.
Commandant Betaille also confirmed that the persons that are involved in the motorcycle races on Sunday mornings are acting illegally because they have not obtained any permit to practice on the main highway. President of the Collectivity of St. Martin, Alain Richardson could not be reached as he is off island at the moment.
Residents of French Quarter and members of the Conseil de Quartier said that the death of Smith is something they expected to happen a long time ago. "These riders come from all over the island and they gather by Brooks Car Wash every Sunday morning to practice their illegal racing." One member of the Conseil de Quartier said that he hopes that the death of Smith will deter the riders from racing in their neighborhood. It should be noted that every Sunday morning road users are stopped so that the races can take place and neither the Gendarmes nor the Police Territorial never took measures to stop the illegal racing.