Andrew Peniston Killed In Motorcycle Accident

January 6, 2013

[Updated] The island has recorded the first road fatality of 2013, following the death of a 51-year-old man in a motorcycle collision just after midnight.

At approximately 12.10am today [Jan 6], emergency services responded to the single vehicle accident on North Shore Road near the junction with Barkers Hill.

Police Inspector Tracy Burgess said, “Police responded to a report of a single vehicle collision that had taken place at the junction of Barkers Hill and North Shore Road at approximately ten past midnight on the 6th of January, where a 51-year-old male had been taken to King Edward Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.

“Police are now appealing to any witnesses to this collision to contact PC Fox of the Roads Policing Unit at 295-0011. There were no other vehicles involved in this collision, and this is the first road fatality for the year 2013.”

Update 4.27pm: The police have named the victim as Andrew Peniston of Smith’s parish. The full police statement follows below.

The Bermuda Police Service can now confirm the death of 51 year old Andrew Penniston of Smith’s parish.

Mr. Penniston was seriously injured in a single vehicle collision that occurred around 12:10am on Sunday, January 6th in the North Shore Road, Barkers Hill Devonshire area when the motorcycle he was riding apparently collided with a traffic island.

Mr. Penniston was initially treated at the scene before being taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital via ambulance where he was pronounced dead by an on call doctor at 12:30am.

A Family Liaison Officer has been assigned to Mr. Penniston’s family to assist them at this tragic time. The investigation into this fatal collision is ongoing and any witnesses or anyone with any information should contact PC Roger Fox at the Roads Policing Unit on 295-0011.

The Bermuda Police Service extends condolences to the family & friends of Mr. Penniston.

Update Jan 7, 11.48am: The police have amended the spelling to Peniston.

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Category: Accidents and fires, All, News

Comments (101)

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  1. Keepin' it Real...4Real! says:

    W!T!F!!… IS IT WITH THIS BARKERS HILL ROUND A BOUT..?

  2. CFC_BLU says:

    Please take your time on these roads bermuda………it’s a bad start for the new year. My prayers to the family of this gentleman.

  3. Keepin' it Real...4Real! says:

    Shower that area with cameras from every aspect…then we will see the causes of such incidents…

    • sd says:

      agreed. i am suspect of the many single vehicle accidents as of late.im not buyin it.i see at least a car a day traveling over the middle line.last night i witnessed a car purposely(assumed-or the woman was drunk) move over the line to block a bike that was passing 2 cars-at a slow speed i might add,as the same car was holding up traffic

  4. Will says:

    Barkers Hill claims another one…condolences to the family of the victim..and would somebody assess the dangers of this junction and fix it!

  5. Mr Happy says:

    Very sad for the gentleman and his family. Sincere condolences….

    What is the DEAL with NS Rd and all the accidents??? I ride my bike up there all the time and never have a problem.

    • gmsgms says:

      NS is relatively straight and lends itself to high speeds.

    • Harmony says:

      Speed is usually the issue here. People all know about this round about but don’t slow themselves down on approach.

      Condolences to the family of the deceased.

  6. :-/ says:

    My prayers go out to the family. PEOPLE TAKE YOUR TIME!!

  7. 2013 says:

    My thoughts and prayers to the family xx

  8. Eugene Tatem says:

    When it comes to road safety,we need to take our time. I,m on the road every day,if I’m doing around 25-30mph, I am overtaken as if I’m standing still,and many times on the inside,my blind side. By the way people are driving,we are lucky there are not many more.

  9. Road Sense says:

    @Will:

    There is nothing wrong with the road nor the junction (ie the roundabout) as hundreds of people travel through it every day. We need to first pray for his family and friends (my prayers are with them) – then we need to get serious about why there are so many “single vehicle” collisions in Bermuda. The answer is simple but tough to hear = human error, which could include inattention, alcohol, drugs, fatigue, speed, etc.

    I don’t know the cause of this fatal collision, and I am not going to guess (as that would not be right at this point – respecting his family/friends).

    I am simply going to pray that his family/friends are comforted at this time and ask that we, Bermudians, try to become safer drivers in 2013.

    • Really! says:

      Road Sense you make perfect sense.

      Condolences to the family of the accident victim.

      The other morning around 2:40am – I was driving my car just past the yellow church right after you pass the old Clay House on North Shore Road going east when a man on a bike heading west proceeded to cross over into my lane. I stopped and he rode his bike between my passenger side and the side of the road. I flashed my lights and honked the horn and he never stopped and rode like everything was perfectly normal. I got out of the car to see what happened as he drove out of sight. Now that was a potential Accident.

  10. dthtoo/ says:

    1) What’s in a name: After whom was Barker’s Hill named?

    2) Geography/Science: Perhaps there is some form of magnetic field/ energy/vibrational force which envelopes the area at various times – unbeknown to us. I am thinking the same for the Crow Lane area as well. I drive a car and usually reduce my speed substantially whenever I travel down Palmetto Road towards the Barker’s Hill roundabout because I have had a few past experiences where I have felt a “pulling sensation” (have any of you and you have just dismissed it?) – almost like a slight loss of control in my steering – a slight veering off course. It is terribly quite unnerving. It may sound a little strange, but I think that it would be worth examining this situation from a whole new and different perspective, rather than installing cameras.

    • Anything's Possible says:

      People may scoff at your theory, but I believe it. Another area like this is the main road going out of St David’s. There is a curve there and there have been quite a few accidents…including several with police cars. Once I was driving along there, no speed or anything and it literally felt like I was being pulled into the other lane. I had to fight to bring my car under control. When I told my friend, she said the same thing happened to her! Whilst we don’t know what happened in this case, it’s sad to see that spot claimed another life. Condolences to the family and may he RIP

      • Eastern says:

        That corner that you speak of on St. David’s Road was a major problem for years due to two stroke bikes that throtle up in corners and spray oil on the road from their exhaust. I have seen many accidents on this corner; including bikes sliding out and cars losing traction and ending up in the fence or on their rooves. These accidents always seem to happen after a very light shower after it has not rained for a while and the oil on the road has built up. That pulling sensation that you felt was your car losing traction on the road.
        But I haven’t seen an accident there since government installed the red high-grip surface.

    • Condolences go out to the family and our prayers are for you at this time,I agree with dthtoo, in the sense that I really think their needs to be an investigation into the state of our roads, as far as the paving of our roads and the oils that are in them.

      last week Thursday evening coming out of the city along crow lane going down the incline toward the bus area,there was a car that verred right across from one lane to another at normal speed,that car was totally demolished.their was witnesses to prove that speed was not involved.

      It was very fine rain and the oil surface to the top of the pavement,the same can be said for the western end of scaur hill in somerset that was resurfaced last year,due to the same problem.

      my question is,when we can clearly see that is the poor surfacing of our roads and not speed that causes some of these accidents,when do we hold government resposible to reinburse people for their damages.

      • MJ says:

        Duane,
        Should we hold all the Transport and / or Works and Engineering Ministers responsible who held the position over the last 10 years or so? Clown.
        Condolences to family and friends of this man.

        • You may be onto something... says:

          @MJ-Duane has a point. If someone has an accident due to poor engineering of the roads and it can be proven, whose fault is that??? It isn’t the driver’s so why should he pay???

          We pay a small fortune to license our cars and are told that it’s to cover the upkeep of our roads when we all know very well that many of the roads are in piss-poor condition so what are we paying for?! It’s ridiculous! We pay all that money just to drive on f**ked up roads that mess up your transmission and guess who pays to take the car to the mechanic? Not Government!

          If they want to keep charging these ridiculously high fees to get our vehicles on the road, the least they can do is hold up their side of the deal and give us what we’re supposed to be paying for!!!

    • Oh Please says:

      Many of Bermudas roads are pitched away from the turn instead of into the turn. IE: if you are turning right around the round-about at the bottom of Palmetto road and North Shore from the direction of Hamilton in order to turn up Barkers Hill you will drift towards the water. That has happened to me. Our roads are poorly laid out not to place blame solely on the roads. Driver error can be a contributing factor also.

    • You may be onto something... says:

      @dthtoo: People may laugh but there is evidence that such things exist. There are some things that science can’t explain, but it doesn’t make it any less real. Add to the fact that we are part of the mysterious ‘Bermuda Triangle’…there is some evidence of magnetic pulls and the like around Bermuda, so your theory may not be that far off.

      I wish scientists could come here and look into it-I’d like to know if there is real evidence to support your experience.

      Meanwhile, my condolences to the family of the gent who passed-tragic no matter the reason.

    • Bda Nanny says:

      I agree!!!!

  11. Green leaf says:

    May he RIP. Condolences to his family and friends.

  12. Observer says:

    I agree! There must be a reason for so many accidents near or on that round a bout which are fatal at times. Not going to say the causes are due to being impaired because I don’t know the facts.

  13. northshore girl says:

    Terrible news. but its not the junction, most people fly on north shore and hardly anyone exercises care, caution or courtesy on the roads anymore. its a sad reality. and its unfortunate that such a tragedy as this has befallen our island once again so early on in the year. My condolences to the family – whatever the cause.

  14. Stop Complaining for 1 sec says:

    Camber is how a road slopes from the centre to the sides. When approaching a right hand bend, for instance, it would normally tilts down from the left hand side of the road towards the centre. This ‘crossfall camber’ assists safe cornering, because it provides some compensation for the degree of left-lean that a vehicle experiences as it negotiates the right-hand bend.

    At road works, it is not always practical to maintain this desirable road camber. So the term adverse camber can be applied to any road that tilts on the same side that the car leans in a given bend.

    Taken at an appropriately low speed, adverse cambers are at worst a little uncomfortable, but if your speed is too high, or you’re in a high-sided vehicle, they can prove more dangerous.

  15. Computer Guy says:

    Almost got taken out at this same round-a-bout coming off barker’s hill by someone a few years ago who didn’t stop while coming off the hill from palmetto road. I concur with the people who say that accidents happen here frequently. Luckily, I had an inkling that something was going to happen so I slowed down and ended up hitting the side of the car as opposed to the car hitting me directly from side-on. I was able to walk away with just a sore shoulder and abdomen. This was a single accident which makes this all the more familiar. I no longer live in Bermuda now (moved away about two years ago) and I for one would be happy if I never ride another scooter again. Flirted with death one too many times even though I never rode recklessly.

    My prayers go out to this man’s family.

  16. dthtoo/ says:

    If I have experienced that tugging sensation/loss of balance in a four-wheeler, at a very reduced speed, and I am operating the vehicle with an alert, sound, sober mind – imagine what must happen on a two-wheeler.

    • The Truthsayer says:

      Nothing because whatever you’re describing is bulls**t!

    • Mad Dawg says:

      I think that mysterious tugging sensation may be something called “gravity”.

    • Come Correct says:

      Alert and sober maybe, but after reading a bunch of your commemts, sound mind is debatable… Losing balance in a 4 wheeled vehicle?…You sure you’re sober? I’ve never experienced a tugging sensation anywhere near…..anywhere… Maybe Andre Curtis’s angel is trying to send you a message.

  17. god1st says:

    @ dthtoo You again with false information.

  18. Prayerful says:

    I must try out the “camber” in a few minutes on my way to church.

  19. god1st says:

    @ dthtoo so you drive hey, try reducing the rhetoric and your speed.

  20. god1st says:

    @ dthtoo obviously something is wrong with your brain and vehicle go and to a physciatrist and a mechanic.

    • dthtoo/ says:

      god1st,

      There isn’t a thing wrong with my car or my brain (I happen to think far out ’cause I’m an extraordinary goddess – blessed with an uncanny wisdom, and there’s no need for you to be so jealous. Learn from me. One day, if you are a person of integrity and with any decency, you are going to humble yourself and apologize to me. Mark my words.

      Read some of the other comments and you will observe that other road users have had similar experiences to mine. Gravity may well have something to do with the many traffic mishaps.

      • Come Correct says:

        I want to appologize, I take back every comment I’ve made to you. I believe its wrong and very immature to talk bad about mentally handicapped people. I didn’t know until now, so sorry.

        As a side note because I like to help, I think gravity has something to do with every traffic “mishap”.

        (20 years ago I’d be $50 richer for calling you in)

  21. sd says:

    yup the (terrible) opposite camber roads need to be fixed.its not hard to pitch the road in the right direction and drill drain holes in the middle. im sure nobody would complain about THAT co$t. HOWEVER if u live here all ur life u should know which roads are wrong and drive accordingly. also the tires that come on vehicles and the aftermarket replacements are too slick but thats another argument entirely.main thing is u know what u have to work with learn how to drive it on it AND stay on ur side of the road.slow down BEFORE a corner not ON the corner,dont use brakes on a corner=biggest cause of “push” (not magnetic fields)

  22. we are blessed says:

    If people feel that it is the junction and or the road, why are there not accidents EVERY day in the morning rush and the evening rush hour

  23. Nuffin but de Truth! says:

    Some parts of Bermuda’s roads have indeed been surfaced with a low grade and very inferior tarmac which remains oily and greasy all the time,during dry times it is relatively safe to drive on,but as soon as it rains it becomes deadly,as we know,oil and water fosnt mix.

    These roads were surfaced under the plp regime about the same time a certain person’s house was fixed up.

  24. My heart goes out to all says:

    My condolences goes out to the family and friends of this gentleman. May he RIP. Its hard losing someone so sudden. I feel for you all as I have been in the same predicament. After losing someone in 2011 at the same roundabout and questions still wonder in my head on what really happened at that roundabout. I’m sure this area is really dangerous after a slight rainfall especially coming off the hill from Tynes Bay Area approaching the roundabout. Please govt do something about this area to make it safer for riders and drivers. Even if more lights need to be installed along with cameras and non slip surfaces in that area. We don’t need to lose more of our gentlemen on these roads. May God help the family in theses hard times.

  25. Time Passages says:

    The road is straight people. The road is not dangerous – people who drive too fast are dangerous. I drive this road every single day to and from work. People are always overtaking me and I’m usually at 50 – 55 k.

    A little care will get you there. Not bombing home half cut in the middle of the night.

    Condolences to his loved ones.

  26. Stop Complaining for 1 sec says:

    @ Nuffin but de Truth
    Why are you always trying to be so deceitful
    Some of the roads which you refer too, have had a substance put on them, which was tried and tested in Canada. The issue isnt the road surface itself, but mostly the camber of the roads.
    Take East Broadway as an example. How many countless people have been either seriously injured or killed coming around the bend just before entering the roundabout.
    How many pictures have we seen of vehicles at the bus stop?
    Most of Bermuda’s roads are poorly designed when it comes to the camber, which would assist all vehicles to negotiate bends, corners and hills.
    Stop living in the past dude, or are you one of those people that helped to build the airport under the UBP with NO bathrooms.

    • Nuffin but de Truth! says:

      tried and tested in Canada,yup and found to be sub standard!

      (as to Airport Building,get your facts right before you try running your mouth!).

  27. Triangle Drifter says:

    Bermudas roads are inherently dangerous. They were never designed for motorized traffic & have never been re engineered for motorized traffic.

    Try to locate just 3 bends, of thousands, which are cambered in to the curve. All these decades, all these re surfacings since 1946 why have roads not been graded to make them safer, especially important for cycles?

    What do the engineers at W&E actually do all day?

  28. Black Un-employed Bermudian says:

    This guy was a mature 51yr old. Why is it that we always assume things .. ie assume he was speeding!! He could have fallen asleep, he could have had a heart attack or something! Gush people shut the heck up! We don’t know what happened!!

  29. Why says:

    Here is a fact that we should know. 75 percent of all road traffic deaths, alcohol was a contributing factor. I do not know if that is the case for this death. But blaming the roads for deaths is like blaming the water for a drowning.

  30. What Do You THink says:

    You can be killed at any speed..even at 1mph. The Barker Hill Junction for one isn’t particularly well lit at all entering it from any direction. I agree with Black Un-employed Bermudians statement and also erecting cameras in that area also.

  31. swing voter says:

    Andrew was a Nice Fella…I went to Warwick Sec with him. Sad that he went out like this. I’ll be extremely surprised that drink or drugs were involved. He wasn’t that type of guy. So why so many ‘single vehicle’ accidents? Could there be another car or cycle that may have caused him to swerve or slam breaks? too many questions unanswered

  32. NOT. A. SPOON says:

    I agree with you Why. next thing we gonna blame a knife and fork for making us fat.

  33. Bermuda.Reader says:

    My sincerest condolences to Mr.Penniston’s family. You are in my prayers.

  34. RHONDA says:

    what!!!!! another roundabout jumping in front of the traveling public..

    • Dee (Original) says:

      Rhonda what a sick and insensitive remark!!! Somebody lost their LIFE so this is not the time for your crass comments. For all the people speculating on speed, drinking, etc I have lost a loved one on the roads and it was awful. People did the same thing (speculate) when it turned out his single vehicle accident was due to a medical crisis. Like Black Un-Employed Bermudian said, we don’t know what happened so shut up until the facts are known!!!

    • we are blessed says:

      exactly lol

    • Dee (Original) says:

      Rhonda what a sick and insensitive remark!!! Somebody lost their LIFE so this is not the time for your crass comments. For all the people speculating on speed, drinking, etc I have lost a loved one on the roads and it was awful. People did the same thing (speculate) when it turned out his single vehicle accident was due to a medical crisis. Like Black Un-Employed Bermudian said, we don’t know what happened so shut up until the facts are known!!!

  35. Baileys Bay says:

    R.I.P. my brother from another mother. Sad to hear it was u that passed. Went cross the accident scene bout 12:30 . Didn’t know it was u. To all the ppl drawing their own conclusions stop it please. Accidents do happen and this roundabout happens to be a major spot. Ive had 2 cousins pass there and others I’ve known. STOP DRINKING N RIDING TAKE UR TIME AND REMEMBER THE ROAD IS HARDER THEN U

  36. Stop Complaining for 1 sec says:

    @ Nuffin but de Truth! and what facts could you possibly be eluding too.

    FACT:
    THE UBP renovated the new departure lounge at the airport with NO BATHROOMS and the roof leaked
    FACT:
    THE UBP hired a Canadian company to oversea the project
    FACT:
    the same Canadian company was used for the New Corrections Facility

    Shall I go on, i have PLENTY of facts my boy, NOT ALL OF THEM WERE LOST AS SOME OF YOU WOULD HAVE LIKED

  37. Time Passages says:

    The Barkers Hill roundabout is wide open, and well lit. No blind spots. Only human error or catastrophic failure of equipment would cause such an incident.

    Slow down people – and give up the booze for a while. I know I am.

  38. god1st says:

    @ dthtoo You are not sober minded number 1 you spit resent ,hate,false information and theories that are untrue. And i am not talking about the mentally challenged.I am talking about dthtoo who is poisonous and no good to humankind.

  39. god1st says:

    @ dthtoo godess more like satans child

  40. god1st says:

    @ dthtoo You are not realistic and i must agree with you that you think far out and it is not because you are wise.

  41. god1st says:

    Wisdom is the judicious application of knowledge. It is a deep understanding and realization of people, things, events or situations, resulting in the ability to apply perceptions, Judgements and actions in keeping with this understanding. It often requires control of one’s emotional reactions (the “passions”) so that universal principles, reason and knowledge prevail to determine one’s actions. Wisdom is also the comprehension of what is true coupled with optimum judgment as to action. Synonyms include: sagacity, discernment, or insight.

  42. god1st says:

    @ dthtoo So you don’t meet the criteria. ( Wisdom)

  43. god1st says:

    Andre Curtis angel is sending dthtoo a message lol

  44. Joonya says:

    I use this roundabout twice a day, and just about every morning I see people jamming from the Eastend. It makes everyone who is waiting or ‘yielding’ edgy and forces us to make quick decisions.
    I say put speed bumps about 20-30 yards before the roundabout in either direction. As previous commenters have mentioned, the long stretches leading up encourage excess speeds, especially coming from East as you want to carry speed to get up the hill towards Palmetto Road.

  45. Dee (Original) says:

    God1st take a chill pill will you!!! Ok we all get it, you have a supreme beef with dthtoo!!! Multiple posts one after the other…you are making comments to her on other news articles as well…do you hear yourself? You’re almost stalking her… you keep striking over and over trying to get a reaction. Take a break for crying out loud…somebody lost their life- stop making it about you and your petty squabbles!!!

  46. Winnie Dread says:

    RIP Andrew condolences to the family, please note these roads are there day in day out from before we were born. In my books there are no “black spots” we need to be very observant on the roads. As you go about your lives ride,drive,run,walk safely.

  47. Fruity says:

    RIP uncle..
    Hang in there family, we keep getting it rough.. xoxo

  48. god1st says:

    @ Dee go and chew some bubble gum you don’t have any solutions or answers to what took place.

    • VJ says:

      I didn’t see you come up with any solutions or answers either. All you did was call people names, mentally challenged and the like. If anybody is poisonous or no good to mankind it’s you! And you actually have the nerve to call yourself god1st? You are just an evil, spiteful and nasty person. Like Dee said, take a chill pill. Nobody wants to hear your hateful puke.

      • Come Correct says:

        In all fairness the mentally handicapped comment was me simply because I didn’t think dthtoo/’s comments could get any more bizarre until I read “I’m an extraordinary goddess – blessed with an uncanny wisdom”. Maybe we found somebody that dislikes dthtoo/’s comments more than me but at the same time there’s a fine line between justifiable disagreement and becoming no different than the very person you disagree with. God1st, if you disagree, state your case and move on, don’t stress yourself about it, people like that aren’t worth the time. I feel you but im also in agreement with Dee and VJ. I’m guilty of the same name calling but you usually have to say something really stupid to deserve it… I’ll work on that anyway.

    • VJ says:

      BTW…go and chew some bubble gum? How old are you- twelve? Funny!!!

  49. god1st says:

    @ DEE Maybe you are frustrated take a deep breath inhale exhale and cover your mortgage,rent etc….

    • Dee (Original) says:

      God1st I make my point and move on!!! You made six, count them SIX posts one after another. NONE of your posts had anything to do with the story at hand, they were just attacks towards dthtoo…so if anybody is frustrated it’s YOU!!! A man lost his life, and all you’re concerned about is getting a rise out of somebody. Read your posts, you sound like a real psycho!!! My mortgage has been paid, so I’m good…please take your MEDICATION as I don’t want to be your new cyber enemy…sicko!!!

  50. DP says:

    I didn’t know Andrew very well, just briefly met him. Seemed like a very nice guy. My condolescenes to his family.

    Does Government have a ‘suggestion box’ anyone know?, because I have one – I think they should make ALL the roundabouts like the one leading to Gorham’s. Just a hump. At least if you hit it, you’ll roll over it and it may not have such sad results, although it would be argued that you could hit traffic coming the other way. That’s my opinion.

  51. Boston Baked Bean says:

    My condolences to this man’s family. RIP. Now……..would someone at Bernews PLEASE get this moron “god1st” off the blog????

  52. god1st says:

    @ Dee breath easy let the wind blow you away and be sure to pay your debts.

  53. god1st says:

    @ Dee when you depart and leave this earth do you know how you will exit. Although you have bills to pay don’t stress the mortgage for that shall come to pass. lol

  54. god1st says:

    And congratulations Dee i hope you own atleast 3 properties although you are struggling now. @ Dee the root word for mortgage is morgue many people die trying. keep in mind paying off a house doesn’t show wealth you Have folk that have payed off condominiums but don’t have cash they were fortunate enough to risk limbs and come away unscathed lol. I wish you people would pay your monthly bills etc…. stop lying DEE and dthtoo lol

    • Come Correct says:

      I think you well crossed that fine line I mentioned above.

      @ Dee, props on handling your mortgage, not an easy thing in Bermuda.

  55. god1st says:

    @ dee you are a liar lol

  56. god1st says:

    @ come correct whats ya gender

  57. Mr. Happy says:

    BERNEWS, no joke…can you please block this person god1st? A man lost his life, and this joker is polluting the comments section with his/her nonsensical blather and personal attacks. I am certain that they are not complying with the Terms Of Service. Thank you.

  58. god1st says:

    @ MR Happy AKA Miss sad bernews can’t block me goose nose lol

  59. god1st says:

    @ VJ you already know what it is like to taste defeat you mold fossil

  60. john pereira says:

    It pisses me off to see that my uncle had died and people on here making stupid comments on nothing to do with the topic god is watching your time will come and someone else may do the same to you!!!! Miss you pops your in a better place now