Senior Reporter
rhondor.dowlat@guardian.co.tt
A motorcyclist who crashed while racing his motor bike along the Wallerfield Racing Circuit on Sunday, has died.
Not only did he sustain injuries from the crash, but he reportedly crashed into a beehive and was covered by bees by the time the paramedics got to his aid.
The motorcyclist has been identified as Melbourne Taylor, 34, a father of one who lived on Smith Drive, Crescent Gardens, D’Abadie.
Taylor was the grandson of former West Indian cricketer Jaswick Taylor.
Police said at about 1.30 pm Taylor was riding in a ten-lap race along with other participants at the Frankie Boodram Wallerfield Racing Circuit when on the ninth lap he began to experience mechanical difficulties. As he approached a bend, he lost control of the motor cycle and crashed into a tyre barrier.
Taylor was taken to the Arima Hospital and later transferred to the Eric WIlliams Medical Sciences Complex where he died at 6.27 am on Monday.
Speaking to Guardian Media at his home, Taylor’s mother, Elizabeth, and his younger brother, Isaiah, remembered him as being a “Guardian Angel” who had saved many lives in his lifetime.
“I remember there was a vehicular accident right on the main road here and while everyone was watching, my son connected the hose and went to out the fire because the car had caught on fire and people were trapped inside. He got out there with the hose and managed to save the people. A lot of times, in numerous accidents, my son was there at that time and would always be running to help others and save lives,” Elizabeth said as she reminisced on the good memories of her son.
“He was always helping people and would go all out for them. If someone asked him for $20 and he had $19 he would borrow $1 just to make up that $20 to lend the person. When anyone was sick, he was quick to make bush tea. He had a golden and caring heart. Losing my son to this is a very hard pill to swallow,” she added.
Elizabeth said over a decade ago her son represented T&T in the Global World Leaders forum and received many accolades and awards for excellence and outstanding work through secondary school at Arima Government Secondary and Northgate College.
Isaiah remembered his brother for having a passion for racing and said he began racing on the circuit since 2018.
“He was fun and very bubbly, full of life. I remember him taking me all over with him as a little brother to him growing up,” he said.
A statement issued by the T&T Automobile Sports Association yesterday confirmed the incident at the Frankie Boodram Wallerfield International Raceway.
It said, upon the crash, Taylor was attended to by the paramedic team on site, during which primary care was administered.
He was subsequently taken by ambulance to the Arima District Hospital where he was attended to by the health professionals on duty and his injuries assessed; he was then transferred to the Mt Hope medical facility.
Melbourne was the owner of Taylor’s Auto Garage Parts and Services, also known as TAG, located at Smith Drive, Crescent Gardens, D’Abadie. He was the father of three and the husband of Andrea Taylor.
The TTASA said Taylor was an avid motor sports enthusiast, regularly participating in the discipline of Motor Cycle racing for several years.
“The management, trustees, members and stakeholders of TTASA and the motor sport fraternity extend our deepest condolences to the family of Melbourne Taylor,” the statement read.