The Bellefield Alumni Association is today (July 19) leading tributes for past student Ashley Findley-Forbes, who succumbed to injuries she sustained in a freak accident at the Vernamfield Aerodrome in Clarendon. 

Findley-Forbes, a member of the Manchester-based high school’s 2014 graduating class, was among four persons struck by a motorcar, which veered off the race track and into a crowd of spectators. 

“Ashley Findlay-Forbes, Class of 2014. She was the female that died in the accident at Vernamfield yesterday. She is from Porus. Let us keep the family in our prayers. Condolences to the family from the Alumni Association,” the group shared late last night. 

Many past students struggled to come to terms with the loss and expressed disbelief at Findlay-Forbes’ passing, describing her as humble and vivacious but God-fearing. 

Our Today was informed by the Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) that Findlay-Forbes was a 25-year-old native of Spring Grove District in Porus. 

She was working as a personal assistant at the Mandeville branch of Chancellor Insurance Agency Limited.  

When contacted, the branch told our newsroom that it was engaged in a staff meeting since 10:00 am and that a comment would not be immediately forthcoming.

According to preliminary reports out of the CCU, the Vernamfield incident occurred around 3:45 pm on July 17, during the Drag Rivals event organised by the KenT Racing company. 

Video footage leading up to the freak accident shows a Toyota Supra motorcar revving its engine ahead of the fateful drag race.

The car was given the green light by officials to storm the airstrip but, as soon as it took off, the driver lost control of the vehicle and veered right—crossing the temporary barrier set up to protect spectators and coming to a crashing halt in the nearby crowd.

READ MORE:

• Police confirm one death from Vernamfield drag racing accident
• KenT Racing assures Vernamfield track was safe to race