Tragic Collision Claims Life of 19-Year-Old One Day After Her Birthday

The 19^th birthday of Tamisha Jeal will forever be tainted with sadness after she lost her life in a road collision the day after her birthday.  The motorcycle collision occurred on Sunday morning near the Puma Gas Station on the George Price Highway near the junction with Carrillo Puerto Avenue.  Jeal and her brother Keenan were returning the borrowed cycle they were on when a Nissan pickup truck belonging to 57-year-old Simeone Herrera Jr pulled out of the intersection, causing the collision. Wragg sustained severe bodily injuries while Jeal suffered a broken jaw and head injuries. Both siblings were taken to the San Ignacio Community Hospital for treatment, but Jeal succumbed to her injuries. ACP Hilberto Romero commented on the unfortunate situation. 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division: “On Sunday the 8th day of September 2024 police visited an area on the George Price Highway where a fatal road traffic accident occurred. Information is that a Nissan Frontier was found at the scene also a Kawasaki Motorcycle was found with extensive damages. Information is that the Kawasaki ran into the pickup and crashed. As a result Keenan Rad* who was the driver was taken for medical treatment and he had a passenger with him namely Tamisha Jade and she was taken to the hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. A blood sample and NIP was served on both drivers. Investigation into this report continues.”

The family would have never imagined that something like this would ever happen as they had just celebrated both Wragg and Jeal’s birthday the day before as a family. Little did they know that it would be their last celebration as a complete family. Love News spoke with parents Graham and Linda Jeal on the state of disbelief this has left them in. 

Graham Jeal, Father: “I was at home. My daughter and my son had just left on the bike. I said goodbye, also asked her in one sense where are you going or why are you going, that was a little bit more of the difficult part that I could actually say sometimes I think if I had pressed a little harder I could have actually stopped her from going on the bike that day. But yeah they took off, they left, my wife left to church earlier before them that morning so she was at church and I was at home alone. I was doing some errands, dealing with my dogs and stuff and unfortunately I saw the call of the owner of the bike the young man Jared , a very good friend of ours a very good friend of my son and from the moment I saw that call I knew something was wrong. When I got on the scene my daughter wasn’t there only my son. So I didn’t know the state of my daughter as yet. My son I knew he had two arms broken, I was more concerned that he had more damage to his body due to the view of the site I knew I saw my daughter’s helmet on the floor, I saw a little bit more blood, I heard someone say she was more under the vehicle so my mind tripped a little bit.”

Linda Jeal, Mother: “She had just celebrated her birthday Saturday, just turned 19 and the only reason why they had the bike was because there was a blowout in our vehicle and the friend loaned them the bike to go home and they were just taking the bike back the following morning. And I was at church when they called same thing. When I reached they already had my daughter in the ambulance but I couldn’t get in there to see her. All I was told was that she was critical.”

As the investigation continues, a family is left to mourn the loss of their youngest child. Jeal, Ariel Rosado Scholarship recipient and a recent graduate of Galen University, had a bright future ahead of her as she started her career working with animals at the Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic. Her mother commented on the vibrant soul her child was affirming that only her faith in God will be able to help her overcome this hurdle. 

Linda Jeal, Mother: “She was the most loving, kind, ambitious, determined, strong willed young lady. She never made anything stop her. If there was an obstacle in front of her she wound find a way to overcome. Everywhere where she went she was like the beacon of light. Everybody loved her. She showed compassion, her main thing was she loved animals. She had such a passion for animals. It didn’t matter if it was a snake, a turtle, a frog she would look after that animal and she just graduated this year with her Associates Degree in Vet Tech with high honors, she was the first in her class at Galen University and she loved what she did. She was so so dedicated. Nobody had to be behind her. Nobody had to push her and she was such a loving daughter. I wouldn’t have to worry about anything. She would always say “Mom you need help with this ?” She wasn’t selfish. She wasn’t greedy. She was just a beautiful shining star and she was blessed from above. She was my baby, my princess, my everything but my daughter is gone and I’ll miss her forever. But they always say God only takes the best. I hold onto my faith and believe she didn’t punish and she’s now with him.”

The family is seeking blood for Keenan and are accepting all blood types. Donations can be submitted at the Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan or at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City.