The family of little Xavio Trotman, who died tragically on Thursday just shy of his fifth birthday, is making a plea for change so other children in his community can walk its streets safely.
Xavio was involved in a collision with a vehicle in St David’s, Christ Church, on Thursday around 5:45 p.m.
Police said initial investigations showed the vehicle was travelling from the direction of Bridgetown towards Coral Ridge, while the boy was standing next to the road in the care of a relative.
He was transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The boy’s mother was in no condition to speak when a Nation team visited the family home Friday.
His great-grandfather, Jervis Haynes, was right there with him and saw it all unfold in the blink of an eye.
Yesterday, showing where the two had been standing, he pointed to the spot where Xavio landed after the impact, just two houses away from his home.
Haynes said he believed the child was already gone before he was taken from the scene as given the extent of his injuries, he could not have survived.
The loss was made harder by how close Xavio was to celebrating another birthday.
“He would have been five in another week or two,” Haynes said, his voice heavy with grief.
Despite his shock, Haynes spoke with conviction about what must change.
“They need to do something. They need to put up speed limits,” he urged. He also called for more cameras to monitor the speed of motorists.
Xavio’s great-uncle, Bindley Eastmond, spoke just as firmly, his frustration plain as he described what he said was a long-standing problem. He said drivers regularly travel too fast through the community.
“The cars in this area come down here too hard, too fast. This is a village and a lot of people live out here and walk down these streets. They need to put a speed limit out here and maybe some speed bumps,” he stressed.
Eastmond noted that two schools, Blackman and Gollop Primary and Thelma Berry Nursery, are located in the area, so many children used the roads every day.
Xavio had come from Scotland to begin school in Barbados.
“He only came here two weeks ago to start school,” Eastmond said, adding he was at home when the phone rang with news that “Xavi” had been knocked down.
“I remember asking how bad it was. All the person could say was, ‘It real bad’,” he said.
In a media statement yesterday evening on the tragedy, the Barbados Youth Development Council urged “all road users, pedestrians and members of the travelling public to please exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant on our roads”.
It added: “Our hearts are with his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. We wish them strength, comfort and the support they need as they navigate this painful period . . . .” (DDS)