Grieving moms reflect on life/ last conversations with sons killed in Sunday night crash

DEAD BEST FRIENDS: Courtney Marcus and Ronaldo Simmons

Ronaldo Simmons and Courtney Marcus, the two friends who were killed alongside each other Sunday in a crash at Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara wanted to serve Guyana through the discipline services, namely the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Defense Force. This is according to their mothers Lorraine Brummel (Ronaldo’s mom) and Ana Benjamin (Courtney’s mom) in interviews with BIG Smith News Watch on Tuesday.

Ms. Brummel recalled that the boys met each other two years ago while playing for the Old Fort Hockey Club and quickly developed an inseparable friendship. She said she often wondered why they became so close but later found out they had similar dreams, goals, and hobbies.

“From that day they were always together, party buddies and workmates; Courtney and Ronaldo were like brothers,” A grieving Ms. Brummel told BIG Smith News Watch.

Ronaldo and Courtney along with another friend were traveling in motorcar PVV 7570 when it lost control on the wet road around a turn and careened into a concrete fence several feet away along the Bagotstown Public Road. The two young men died on the spot while Steven Roberts; the driver, was admitted to the hospital where doctors treated him for head injuries and a punctured lung.

The car the three friends were traveling in at the time of the crash

21 Year old Simmons was hoping to move through the ranks to the top of the Guyana Police Force and was going to apply for entry into the organization to fulfill his dream. Marcus had already applied to the Guyana Defense Force but his application was placed on hold because of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

“They loved cricket, hockey, basketball and were big fans of wrestling” Ms. Brummel also recalls Ronaldo as someone who loved making fun and ensuring that his family was happy. “He would make you laugh a lot” she added.

Losing her battle to fight back tears, the mother spoke of her last moments with her son. She said that on Friday both of the boys accompanied her to one of her cousin’s funeral in Berbice.

After the funeral, she kissed her son goodbye and returned to Georgetown while he remained there with his friends and other family members. The following day, she received a call from her son who wanted her to know that he was back in Georgetown and home at Peter’s Hall.

“I asked him what he was doing and he responded… Mom, I am here relaxing and I ask him if he sure and he said yes big lady I am here relaxing”. This was Miss Brummel’s last conversation with her son before he met his demise later that night.

“He did not call to say if he was leaving home or notify us where he was until my Son-in-law came home with the tragic news that left me shattered” the broken mother recalled.

Ana Benjamin, the mother of Marcus was not as vocal as Ms. Brummel as she still believes that her son’s death is a dream still be awaken from.

She said he informed her he was heading out, did not say where but did promise to return home.

“He was out and he came home like around 5 pm that afternoon…He brought fish and Plantain and ask me to make him some dinner” Ms. Benjamin recalled that she made the dinner and they ate together.

On Tuesday the Grieving mother noted that after Marcus was finished eating with her he told her, he informed her that he was going out. According to her, she asked him not to go as she was aware that some of the friends he hang out with drinks alcohol. He nevertheless went and promised to return very early.

“He turned around and gave me a hug and said mammy a coming back just now, don’t worry and morning I will go by the fisheries and buy more fish for you,” said Ms. Benjamin in her interview with BIG Smith News Watch.

It was while returning home on Sunday evening that the driver of the motor car PVV 7570 in which Marcus and his Friend Courtney were traveling struck a median, lost control, and slammed into a concrete fence at Bagotstown.

Upon hearing the loud impact residents close to the scene ran to rescue the occupants. The two friends along with the driver Steven Roberts were pulled from the wreckage and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Center.

The boys were pronounced dead on arrival and the driver was immediately transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital to under operation for a punctured lung.