Seven years of agony for crash victim

Yesterday, March 18, marked seven years since 44-year-old Simone Morgan narrowly escaped with her life, after being involved in a serious crash while journeying from Port Royal to Kingston on a motorcycle with her friend.

In an interview with THE STAR, the east Kingston resident, who is a mother of six, reflected on the tragic incident, which not only claimed her friend's life, but left her to endure non-stop trauma. In recounting the horrific moments leading up to the crash, Morgan vividly recalls the sudden impact of a female motorist colliding with their motorcycle, which has left her with lasting physical and emotional scars.

"It's a scar for life," said Morgan, who sustained a broken arm among other injuries. "I am so afraid of the memories because it makes inside of me feel a certain way." Morgan has faced ongoing struggles, both financially and physically, since the crash. She has been unable to finance proper therapy, resorting to makeshift methods to alleviate the persistent pain she feels.

"I still feel a lot of pain in my arm because I can't afford therapy," lamented Morgan. "I have to hold on to a bottle or a ball and try to make the pain wear out." Morgan's injured arm is still a constant reminder of the ordeal, as it bears the visible scars from the crash, and has limited mobility.

"I can't lift heavy things or do any type of strenuous work with it," she explained, agonising over her inability to do the things she was able to do before the crash. "It took three long years before the skin and everything healed properly."

To compound Morgan's situation, she is battling to get compensation.

"The lawyer that was working on my case said everything was sorted out. She told me that they will offer me $5 million, and I shouldn't take it, but I haven't heard anything about it again," lamented Morgan.

Feeling overwhelmed by her situation, which includes caring for her children while trying to cope with her disability, Morgan is hoping for the process of compensation to be expedited.

"Every time the hand hurts, I have to find a way to go to the doctor," she said, noting that pins that were inserted as part of the treatment, are still in there.