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Relief and reflection: Jomari King's father grateful as Antigua and Barbuda cyclist escapes serious injury in hit-and-run
Written by Sports Desk. Posted in Cycling. | 03 July 2025 | 834 Views
Tags: Cycling/Jomari King, Cycling/Antigua and Barbuda

Omari King, father of national cyclist Jomari King, along with the entire Antigua and Barbuda Cycling Federation, is breathing a sigh of relief after the 18-year-old escaped serious injury in a hit-and-run incident.

Jomari, who was struck by a motorcar on Wednesday while training with two fellow cyclists, was discharged from the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre after doctors confirmed there were no broken bones or internal injuries, much to the delight of his father.

"Everything came up clear, no broken bones. He’s in pain and couldn’t even walk out," Omari King told Observer Media shortly after his son’s release.

The incident unfolded during a morning ride alongside fellow riders Jyme Bridges Jr and Aiden Tonge, both of whom escaped unhurt. According to reports, the driver fled the scene after hitting Jomari, but onlookers were quick to record the vehicle’s registration number, which has now been handed over to police. An investigation is ongoing.

Omari expressed his gratitude that others were on the road at the time of the crash, a circumstance that may have spared his son from greater harm or being left unaided.

"They need to have some respect for the cyclists on the road because we are all road users, and we are doing this for our country also; some are doing it for their health and fitness, and we need to share the road. What upset me about this situation is that they hit him, stopped, and then drove off, and that is not something good because if he was by himself, then what would have happened?" the disgruntled father questioned.

He urged motorists to exercise patience and caution when overtaking cyclists.

"Drivers just need to take caution when they see the cyclists out there because sometimes it doesn’t even take them five or 10 seconds to slow down and then overtake when it’s safe to do so. They have to remember that it’s people’s lives out here, and we’re human beings,” he added.

The frightening incident comes almost two years after national cyclist Andre Simon died in June 2023, following more than a year of hospitalization due to injuries sustained in a similar incident. Simon was struck while riding along the Sir George Walter Highway in May 2022 and suffered severe head trauma and internal bleeding.