Death on road

SAMANTHA ST MARTIN lost her life yesterday after deciding to lend support to a friend.St Martin, 32, of Cave Hill, St Michael, was a nurse at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). She was killed in a car accident around 1:40 a.m. on the Spring Garden Highway upon her return trip after accompanying a friend who wanted to drive another friend home.Family members could only speculate as to why St Martin, the mother of ten-year-old Tre Wilkie, consented to take the drive so early in the morning, but they all agreed the deceased was a friendly, helpful person.Family and friends gathered at St Martin’s home yesterday to grieve and reminisce about her life. Her mother, Rose White, a vendor who sells toys, said the sudden death of her daughter was taking its toll.“Last week Sunday she came by my house and brought me food. I also spoke to her during the week but I didn’t have any bad feelings. I have a heavy heart but I’m trying not to take it on too much as I have high blood pressure,” she said.White said her daughter sometimes helped her sell toys during Crop-Over and she already had a space put aside for her.She described St Martin as an excellent nurse who had worked at the QEH for more than five years; and added that she was studying to be a midwife.Police reported yesterday that the driver, Sharon Taitt, 37, of Arthur’s seat, St Thomas, and the passenger of the other vehicle, Mario Neptune, 23, of Spooner’s Hill, St Michael, were both treated at the QEH for injuries to the hands, legs and shoulders. St Martin was pronounced dead at the hospital, while the driver of the other vehicle has yet to be identified.St Martin leaves behind her mother, stepfather and three sisters to mourn. She is the ninth road fatality for the year. (CA)