Crash survivor warns fellow motorcyclists to be smart

Having lost three toes in a motorcycle crash, Omeish Dixon is cautioning his fellow riders to be safe on the nation's roads.

He said that even though he was not at fault in his crash, he saw plenty of recklessness from his fellow motorbike operators while he was briefly driving a car.

"A lot of the times, motorcyclists make it really hard on the road, and some of the times I feel like I would just slap them and tell them to do better," he said. "In the time that I was down, I was driving everywhere and sometimes they will really undertake me on the road, and if something was supposed to happen, I would not swing in the road, and if they are there, what is going to happen? There are times when they ride like they are the only ones on the road so I think there needs to be more campaigns as it relates to safe riding."

Dixon has had a love affair with motorcycles for years, and just the sound of one has him smiling like a child who is given candy. But on May 13, 2023, Dixon decided to take a 'spin' on his friend's motorcycle, a move that almost cost him his life.

"I basically reached home as my house camera caught the accident. A truck driver who didn't put on his indicator, came across on mi and I slammed into the truck. I basically sacrificed my leg as I didn't get any head injury or anything," he said. Dixon spent two weeks between the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) and another Corporate Area health facility.

"Three of my toes on my right leg were dead by the second day that I was at KPH. The thing is, I hardly remember being in the hospital although I was conscious. I am basically blank as it relates to that, so maybe my body is just trying not to remember the trauma," Dixon said. Having only seven toes does not prevent Dixon from mounting on his motorbike, and even doing a few 'wheelies'. But the crash, he said, has taught him valuable lessons.

"Riding is dangerous as you are with other motorists. I have learnt valuable lessons and I will never take the risk with a turning car. Once I see like a driver is about to turn I will slow down and let them go. It was just a truck turning and my life changed forever. We are on a motorcycle and there is no real protection except helmets and other gears. But in a high speed collision those really cannot help you," he said.

According to the National Road Safety Council, Jamaica recorded 364 road crash deaths last year, with motorcyclists making up the biggest group - 122. As of June 2 this year, motorcyclists account for 28 per cent (or 45 fatalities) of the 162 fatalities. This is 13 fewer (22 per cent) motorcyclists when compared with the corresponding period in 2024. Despite still walking with a noticeable limp, the motorcycle enthusiast said he will not be hanging up his keys anytime soon.

"I do everything when it comes on to motorcycles, whether it is spraying or building brackets for them. My dad was a motorcyclist and I remember just always complaining to him that he taught me to ride too late. I learnt when I was about 16 and I wanted to do it from I was about 12," he said. Dixon said that his journey to recovery was extremely painful, as he had to learn to walk again and spent more than a year using crutches.

"My sister was the one taking care of me and I remember one day I was laying in the bed and I just started crying out of nowhere. I kept asking myself 'Why me?' but I have come to learn that things will happen and life goes on. As long as we have life, we just have to keep going forward," he added.