The T&T Cycling Federation (TTCF) is extending condolences to the families of Joe Brown and Joanna Banks, both of whom were killed when a car ploughed into them and other cyclists during a routine Saturday-morning ride, yesterday at 6.30 am.
Brown died at the Mount Hope Medical Sciences hospital soon after, while it is still unsure if Banks died at the scene, as her lifeless body had to be fished out of a nearby ravine upon impact. The cycling federation being led by Robert Farrier held an emergency meeting with his executives yesterday to send sympathy to the families of the deceased, and extend a speedy recovery to those injured. The riders are from the Slipstream Cycle Club.
A release from the cycling federation said, "We at the TTCF continue to support the initiative of the organisations 'Share the Road' and 'Arrive Alive' who promote safe traffic practices amongst all road users since several cyclists have lost their lives on the road. We urge citizens also to support these organisations."
Paul Popplewell, treasurer of Slipstream said his members are now very hesitant to ride again since they believed all was being done to ensure their safety.
"We have paid exorbitant amounts for police escorts during each ride, we have a support vehicle behind the group with flashing hazard lights, we wear clothing that makes us visible, but still this happened so what else do we have to do?" a sad Popplewell asked.
The treasurer who could not make it to yesterday's ride said he was immediately called and given an account of what transpired.
"Upon impact, everyone rushed to Adelino Perreira as he was first thought to be seriously injured. Dr Ajit Kuruvilla, who was among the riders, was walking around checking the injured. He first checked the pulse of Perreira which was alright, then he discovered that Brown was also unconscious, and when he checked his pulse he found it to be weak."
According to Popplewell, "It was then that Dr Kuruvilla realised that his ankle was badly injured and collapsed."
He praised Brown for the work he has done as a cyclist and personal sponsor of the club.
"Only earlier this week, Brown helped in a fund-raising breakfast event to help another rider Linford Blackwood with money to have surgery on an injury sustained recently, so he was a really helpful guy," Popplewell said.
Brown is a British resident who has been living in T&T for many years. He began his career as an executive chef at Trinidad Hilton Hotel in the past, before he branched off on his own, by first opening up the restaurant Salimar. Soon afterwards he established Jaffa at the Oval restaurant which has grown in leaps and bounds.
Banks, on the other hand, was also an expatriate from England who worked at BPTT in the production department.
Popplewell said, "She was an avid rider, very private but always there to help the club in anything it did."