This message is posted with permission from Justin's aunt - "Ty." I am not related to this family, nor have I ever met them other than chatting with "Ty" online. I have made a few corrections for clarity.
Forum members of negril dot com are mobilizing to lobby the government of Jamaica and Chamber of Commerce to take action to remedy the problem of reckless driving in Negril. Many (tourists & Jamaicans) have lost their lives and/or been injured in this same manner.
"Hi:
I am the aunt of Justin Holland. I was made aware of your Board by Jenny. Sometimes you are so involved with what happens in your immediate circle that you are totally unaware of the problems others deal with until you are hit by a tragedy.
I just want to thank everyone for their heartfelt thoughts. Justin was a lovely boy and his life was just beginning. He was only 26 years old and from New Jersey not Penn. Justin was not attempting to cross. He was waiting on the shoulder, a driver stopped and put on his hazard lights for Justin to cross. Some idiot couldn't wait because he was drag racing and swung around the stopped car, struck Justin and killed him instantly. He hit him 100 yards from the entrance of the White Sands villa where we were staying. It was my sister (his mother's) birthday and we all went down as a family. He had just left Margaritaville where we had a party on the beach. They were going to go out to The Jungle and Justin wanted to change his shirt. Justin lay dead while the road was still open and his broken body exposed. If it wasn't for someone at another resort, he would not have been covered. An ambulance arrived and did nothing. Once they saw he was dead, they moved on to treat the man that killed my nephew. He didn't say a word even when I approached him, he did not look at me as if he had any remorse. It took almost 2 hours for the police to come, the coroner another 30-45 mins. Justin lay in a ditch as people stood over and tried to take pictures. I understand that this is something people probably see everyday, but this was no normal situation for us. We will not stop until we get some type of justice. The guy that hit him walked away with a bump on the head. Most people think he will get away with it as his parents own a Texaco gas station downtown and a jewelry store. I know laws are different in the States, but we just can't see him getting away with murder. Although we are from the States, we have met and know people who have contacts. Again thanks for your condolences. His parents arrived back in the States last night and because of the laws or lack thereof, his body will not arrive until Friday (2/6/09).
I just want to say, it does not matter how much you watch the roads if there is no one there to control how people drive. We were supposed to be on vacation. The only comfort we have right now is that we feel the impact was so great that Justin did not suffer and the 20 mins. before this tragedy, he was extremely happy and spent his last moments with his family."
I do not know if it would be proper to post the name of the driver of the vehicle, but that information is posted on the negril dot com message board.
The driver was arrested and is out on bail.
P.S. As much time as we spend on the board chatting about good times, asking questions, reasoning, lurking and posting lengthy trip reports and pictures, surely it is worth YOUR time and effort to get on board with this campaign. Please take a few moments to send an e-mail or two or three to the Ja Chamber of Commerce, Ja Tourist Board, US Consulate in MoBay, the Jamaica Gleaner or the Jamaica Observer and DEMAND SOMETHING BE DONE TO SLOW DOWN THE RECKLESS DRIVERS ON NORMAN MANLEY BLVD. IN NEGRIL. The next victim could be you, your family member or your friend.
Forum members of negril dot com are mobilizing to lobby the government of Jamaica and Chamber of Commerce to take action to remedy the problem of reckless driving in Negril. Many (tourists & Jamaicans) have lost their lives and/or been injured in this same manner.
"Hi:
I am the aunt of Justin Holland. I was made aware of your Board by Jenny. Sometimes you are so involved with what happens in your immediate circle that you are totally unaware of the problems others deal with until you are hit by a tragedy.
I just want to thank everyone for their heartfelt thoughts. Justin was a lovely boy and his life was just beginning. He was only 26 years old and from New Jersey not Penn. Justin was not attempting to cross. He was waiting on the shoulder, a driver stopped and put on his hazard lights for Justin to cross. Some idiot couldn't wait because he was drag racing and swung around the stopped car, struck Justin and killed him instantly. He hit him 100 yards from the entrance of the White Sands villa where we were staying. It was my sister (his mother's) birthday and we all went down as a family. He had just left Margaritaville where we had a party on the beach. They were going to go out to The Jungle and Justin wanted to change his shirt. Justin lay dead while the road was still open and his broken body exposed. If it wasn't for someone at another resort, he would not have been covered. An ambulance arrived and did nothing. Once they saw he was dead, they moved on to treat the man that killed my nephew. He didn't say a word even when I approached him, he did not look at me as if he had any remorse. It took almost 2 hours for the police to come, the coroner another 30-45 mins. Justin lay in a ditch as people stood over and tried to take pictures. I understand that this is something people probably see everyday, but this was no normal situation for us. We will not stop until we get some type of justice. The guy that hit him walked away with a bump on the head. Most people think he will get away with it as his parents own a Texaco gas station downtown and a jewelry store. I know laws are different in the States, but we just can't see him getting away with murder. Although we are from the States, we have met and know people who have contacts. Again thanks for your condolences. His parents arrived back in the States last night and because of the laws or lack thereof, his body will not arrive until Friday (2/6/09).
I just want to say, it does not matter how much you watch the roads if there is no one there to control how people drive. We were supposed to be on vacation. The only comfort we have right now is that we feel the impact was so great that Justin did not suffer and the 20 mins. before this tragedy, he was extremely happy and spent his last moments with his family."
I do not know if it would be proper to post the name of the driver of the vehicle, but that information is posted on the negril dot com message board.
The driver was arrested and is out on bail.
P.S. As much time as we spend on the board chatting about good times, asking questions, reasoning, lurking and posting lengthy trip reports and pictures, surely it is worth YOUR time and effort to get on board with this campaign. Please take a few moments to send an e-mail or two or three to the Ja Chamber of Commerce, Ja Tourist Board, US Consulate in MoBay, the Jamaica Gleaner or the Jamaica Observer and DEMAND SOMETHING BE DONE TO SLOW DOWN THE RECKLESS DRIVERS ON NORMAN MANLEY BLVD. IN NEGRIL. The next victim could be you, your family member or your friend.

go along wid yalls bad selves...to tink all dis a gwane widdout notice ...
but den wi been focussed on bad driving whe cause di big Portland crash whe day an di odda violence dat lash di citizens fi how long now...we so happy dat anodda site now wants our help in arresting di injustice dat dis one individual has brought to lite
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