By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE sudden deaths of two young men in an early-morning crash have left Grand Bahama reeling, with friends remembering one victim, Mateo King, as a joyful, fun-loving person.

The collision, which also injured two women, happened shortly after 2am yesterday at the intersection of East Atlantic Drive and Tamarind Street. It pushed Grand Bahama’s traffic death toll to three and the national total to 48 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

Police said the victims, King and another man believed to be Clifford Brice, died at the scene. The women, who have not been named, were taken to the hospital, one with serious injuries and the other with minor injuries.

ASP Stephen Rolle said the crash involved a white Dodge SUV and a black Ford Explorer, both driven by men. He said police are still trying to determine whether the injured women were pedestrians or passengers.

Videos circulating on social media show a chaotic aftermath: a black SUV crushed against a utility pole and a white SUV with severe front-end damage. Emergency Medical Services found multiple injured people at the site.

King, believed to be in his early 20s, was remembered as a vibrant athlete who had recently joined the Keys Bahamas Realty Strikers softball team.

Leroy Thompson, his head coach and close friend, said the loss stunned the team.

“I just talked to him on Friday, and we had a long conversation,” he said. “So, to hear that this morning, it crushed me.”

Mr Thompson, who also knew King through tag football, described him as between 23 and 25 years old.

“He was a high-spirited person and was an aggressive player on the field,” said Mr Thompson. “Joyful is an understatement to describe Mateo. He was always hype, always going, a fun-loving person, and always a joy to be around. The entire team cannot believe what has happened.”

Tributes poured in on social media. One Facebook poster, a former teacher of King, called the news “unbelievable.”

She said: “One of my favourite students was involved in a car accident and passed away this morning. He was deep in my heart, always mannerly and respectful. I saw him at Goombay on July 17, the day before his birthday, doing what he LOVED to do—beating the drums.”

Another post read: “I honestly don’t even know what to say, how to think on this. This one made me tumble this morning, felt like a hurricane in me head, bro. I still can’t believe this. This really hurt my heart bro.”

ASP Rolle said the accident remains under active investigation.