Well-known biker, Anthony Hunter, perishes in traffic accident

A traffic accident took the life of well-known biker, Anthony Hunter Senior over the weekend. Hunter had escorted a group of visitors on to the George Price Highway when his life was cut short.  From all accounts, Hunter, who is the son of historian Fred Hunter Senior, was driving at a high speed and not wearing a helmet when he slammed into a backhoe near Leslie’s Imports on the George Price Highway.  He did not survive the impact and perished instantly on the highway. His grief stricken son spoke to News Five’s Isani Cayetano about the horrible traffic accident.

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Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The tragic end to the life of fifty-two-year-old Anthony Hunter, his motionless body stretched across the George Price Highway, is a stark reminder of the dangers of speeding.  Likewise, the fatal road traffic accident near mile two, shortly after eight on Saturday morning, brings into sharp focus a need for enforcement where it concerns road safety regulations.  Hunter, a devout motorcycle enthusiast, collided violently into a backhoe; his bike careening off the road before coming to rest some distance away.

Voice of: Resident

“When I hyah di bang I just come out, right, and I just sih di machine parking up and the guy was already on the floor.”

Hunter, from all accounts, suffered massive head injuries and perished on impact.  His son, Anthony Junior, had just left home when he received a worrying phone call.

Anthony Hunter Jr.

Anthony Hunter Jr., Son of Deceased

“I was on my way to work and I was called around maybe 8:18 by my cousin.  Someone who had been at the scene notified her and she called me frantically to let me check up on him, so I called his cell phone and a police officer picked up.  He notified me that there had been an accident and that I need to come out.  So he notified me that it was on the Western Highway, a little past Leslie’s [Imports] or such.  So I went there, the road had been closed off so I went a roundabout way and I called him again letting him know that I was there and at that point he also notified me that I needed to hurry because the accident had been fatal.”

According to the resident, upon responding to the scene, he observed that the Kawasaki Z1000, a four-cylinder bike that Hunter had spent considerable time and money restyling, was nowhere in sight.

Voice of: Resident

“I didn’t get to see the bike because it was out of the street, it was in the drain.  So I just sih di back wheel only, how damaged it got.”

The motorcycle was extensively damaged; its front completely smashed.

Anthony Hunter Jr.

“When I arrived at the scene I noticed his motorcycle and right then I knew [because] it’s unique.  It’s a Kawasaki Z1000 so I knew right away that it was him just from the motorcycle there.”

Anthony Hunter Jr.

“From the way [it looks] it looks like he went head first, from what I understand.”

Isani Cayetano

“Do you know if your father was wearing a helmet at the time of this incident?”

Anthony Hunter Jr.

“No, he wasn’t wearing a helmet.  But I’m not sure if a helmet would have helped him in that situation because it seems like he was going pretty fast.”

In a strange twist of fate, Hunter had witnessed a similar fatality two years ago, along the Boom Road.  That incident involved a deadly collision in which several riders, including Steven Hall, popularly known as DJ Scorpio, were violently flung off their bikes while tailing a cycling race.

Anthony Hunter Sr., Resident [File: February 13^th, 2012]

Anthony Hunter Sr.

“Well I heard the very high revs of motorcycles and I own one so whenever I hear one I look out to see.  And I heard the ruckus of different pitches and I saw several motorcycles kind of flying through the air by the royal palms and I didn’t realize there were going to be four of them.  After the third one I ran out and went outside and saw what [happened] and I stood around outside and talked to the people that stopped by.  But they hit at very high speed.  From the sound of the motorcycles they were coming around the corner very fast and apparently they could not control it and the things happened.”

Hunter, according to his son, was careful for the most part.  Occasionally, nonetheless, he would take a few risks.

Anthony Hunter Jr.

“He always rode with caution but he also liked to sometimes take risks and have fun on the motorcycle.  But like I said every time, be careful.  If you want to go that speed or whatever just know there’s always a risk involved.  You always take your life in your own hands when you do that kind of thing and he always joked that if he died on his motorcycle he’d die happy.”

The driver of the backhoe, an employee of Cisco Construction Ltd., has been served with a notice of intended prosecution. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.