By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net 

A PEDESTRIAN awareness project has been launched in honour of a young mother who died after her car plunged into the sea off Yamacraw Beach earlier this month.

St Anne’s MP Adrian White announced the project in the House of Assembly yesterday in memory of Shyann, a mother of two whose fatal crash at the intersection of Eastern Road and the eastern end of Prince Charles Drive sparked concerns about road safety.

He said his constituency has partnered with Bahamas Striping Group of Companies to improve conditions in the area. Glass bead lining has been applied to the road, and a stop sign has been painted at the intersection.

“We’ve also commenced a pedestrian awareness project for the St Anne’s constituency, which I’ll say would be in honour of Shyann,” Mr White said. “We put down a pedestrian walkway from the vacant lot, where a lot of vehicles park across to the waterfront there, so her memory will live on.”

The victim, a Yellow Elder resident, died at the scene after her black Honda Fit was submerged around 2am on March 1. She left behind a newborn and a two-year-old.

Widely circulated footage showed the vehicle hurtling through the intersection at high speed before launching into the air and crashing into the water. Debris scattered on impact before the car disappeared beneath the surface.

Speed appeared to be a factor, though speculation has also arisen about the possibility of suicide. Authorities have not revealed their conclusions about the matter.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) found no signs of life upon arrival. Police later retrieved Shyann’s body and the wreckage of her vehicle. She reportedly suffered upper body injuries, and an autopsy will determine the exact cause of death.

Superintendent Coran Jennings acknowledged similar incidents have occurred in the area and urged motorists to exercise caution. He noted poor lighting may be a contributing factor and said police will discuss improvements with the Ministry of Works.