Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
Onlookers assist Pat Catino (centre), who fainted after her son, Stefan Chin, was involved in a serious accident at the Dover Raceway, St. Ann, on Monday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
PATRICIA CATINO was looking forward to her first trip to the Dover Raceway for several reasons, but mainly to see her son, Stephan Chin, compete at the 'Frenzi of Speed' meet held at the island's premier circuit racing track in St. Ann on Easter Monday.
But her day nearly ended in tragedy as her son crashed and way badly injured.
Catino's situation brought back memories of Lance Douglas who crashed and died at an Easter race meet three years ago. The accident unfolded right before the eyes of his mother, who came to watch him for the first time. He was thrown from his speeding machine into a wall.
Like that incident, the Jamaica Race Drivers Club (JRDC) has started an investigation into Monday's accident. Investigations into Douglas' case showed that brake failure caused his fatal accident.
With eyes glued to the participants in the event, Mrs. Catino watched as her son's motorcycle came into contact with another motorcyclist while approaching the left angled Du-Point corner.
MOTHER FAINTS
By the time the ambulance took the injured Chin to the pit area for medical attention, his mother, who had become extremely emotional, had fainted. Within a few minutes she was back on her feet and was assisted by relatives and members of the St. Ann's Bay Red Cross.
"I almost lost my son," said Mrs. Catino, who expressed disappointment in the time it took before the injured motorcyclist was taken to hospital.
Rated among the Caribbean's top motorcyclist, Chin was still in hospital up to late yesterday evening. According to his mother, the former United States regional champion might spend the rest of the week in hospital.
"He just had major surgery to remove a blood clot from his head. Several of his bones are also fractured," Mrs. Catino told The Gleaner.
Despite the accident, Douglas 'Hollywood' Gore and Chippy Addison stole the meet spotlight by winning the Improved Production and Modified Production Classes. The afternoon's feature went to David Summerbell Jnr. Robert McDonald and Dennis Chin Quee won the motorcycle events. While national representative Oneil Dennis won the bicycle races.
