Families Mourn Four Teens Killed in Shirley Street Crash

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Four young lives filled with promise, big dreams and bright futures were cut tragically short in Sunday’s deadly Shirley Street crash.

On Monday, families had the grim task of identifying their bodies, gathering at the Princess Margaret Hospital’s morgue.

They spoke to our Delvardo Emmanuel, sharing heartbreaking memories of the daughters, sisters and friends they never expected to lose.

“It was an emotional morning here at Princess Margaret Hospital as family members of the four teenage girls who tragically lost their lives in this weekend’s tragic car crash arrived to formally identify their loved ones.”

It was a morning no parent, sibling or relative should ever have to endure.

The sound of grief echoed as loved ones waited to identify the young women whose lives were cut tragically short.

The victims, close friends with bright futures, had been celebrating their recent graduation achievements before the gray Mazda Demio they were riding in, along with four other passengers, lost control and slammed into a tree near the intersection of Shirley and Church Streets.

Family members traveled from Abaco and Cat Island to New Providence to identify their daughters, sisters and nieces.

Among them was Densandria Wright, the aunt of 18-year-old Betrica Brown.

Wright says just hours before the crash, her niece had asked her to help find a summer job before leaving the country on a volleyball scholarship.

Densandria Wright – Aunt of Betrica Brown

“She said, ‘Auntie, just give me somewhere I could work before I go.’ So I said, ‘I’ll look around.’ While waiting on that, I saw the pictures going around. Then my friend from the States called and showed me, and I said, ‘No, can’t be her. Can’t be true.'”

And true it was.

Brown had recently graduated from Agape Christian School in Abaco and was preparing to begin the next chapter of her life.

Her aunt remembered her as humble, athletic and wise beyond her years.

She says the family was surprised when they learned Betrica had decided to go out that night.

Densandria Wright – Aunt of Betrica Brown

“Even when I heard she was going out, I said, ‘But she doesn’t go out, so how?’ It was kind of awkward to know she was going out. But I said, ‘Okay. She’s probably just hanging with her friends and trying to blend in, so it’s fine.’ She was very sweet. My sister died a few years back, and her dad had died before that, so it was just her.”

Also among those mourning was Damien Stubbs, the father of 17-year-old Diamond Stubbs of Cat Island.

He says only two days before the crash, he had sent his daughter to Nassau to prepare for college.

Damien Stubbs – Father of Diamond Stubbs

“Diamond was one of the nicest, friendliest people. She would go around encouraging young people and motivating them to do something positive.”

Stubbs says his daughter was a leader, a valedictorian and a head girl. She had received a scholarship to Langston University and was ready to begin a new chapter.

Damien Stubbs – Father of Diamond Stubbs

“I was prepared to see her go to college, and she made my entire family proud. Everybody around her was proud — teachers, friends, strangers and all.”