Former Police Commissioner makes broken-hearted plea for drivers to ‘Buckle Up’ after son dies in traffic accident

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, August 4, 2022 – Edward Hall, a former TCI police commissioner says facing the crowd at his son’s candlelight vigil to warn Islanders about driving safety was “one of the hardest statements” he has made in his life but he found it pertinent to do so anyway.

“The appeal to you tonight is to not allow Ernold’s death to be in vain. Young people in this country need to understand rules are made for your protection and you need to protect and be careful with your life or you leave a lot of hurt people behind,” he said tearfully.

While Hall acknowledged the police initially responded positively about pushing out the message he said  “I thought that the Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police Force of whom I was apart for some 36 years would have embraced the opportunity to do so.—- I don’t want this opportunity to pass and that’s why I am here to launch an appeal.”

Ernold Hall died on July 2 in a car accident in North Caicos. The senior Hall explained that as an officer he had worked in road traffic more than any other department and had what he describes as the misfortune to visit several accident scenes and his sons was devastating.

“When I got the call that there had been an accident and Ernold was involved my heart shifted because this guy had 9 lives and he was definitely on the tenth,” forcing back tears, the former Commissioner described the aftermath of the call.

“I drove to the scene along with my son and when I saw the car I knew it couldn’t be good but given the training I had I went and examined the scene— I saw him in the car and I saw the position he was in and I knew this was not good.”

Hall said he had been concerned even before the call noticing his son’s missing car after they had buried a family member only hours before. He described feeling hopeful that the driver’s side of the car wasn’t as damaged.  That was until he noticed the position of his child’s neck but something else was even more heartbreaking for the former traffic cop.

“I saw that the seatbelt that he was supposed to be wearing around him was in the back of him. I told him before when I was riding with him we have to do this right— this seatbelt when you get in an accident could save your life. I am of the view that if Ernold had his seatbelt on he might have been hurt but he would not have died.”

Often breaking down, emotions raw the night before he would bury his son, there was the plea to the gathered and those sharing his statement with us and over social media.  The former top officer was especially targeting younger islanders with his message.

“I am broken but I am also angry because if he (Ernold) had the seatbelt on he would’ve been alive today and you who are left behind we’re going to be placing some signals on that corner asking you to put your seatbelts on because this is where Ernold died. Put on your seatbelts! It’s the law and it can save your life.

Please do it for your family, do it for your children.”