Memorial for crash victim Tyaisha Cox unveiled
The unveiling of a memorial honouring a six-year-old who tragically died in 2003 brought her mother to tears yesterday.Margret Moore said the plaque perfectly captured her daughter Tyaisha Cox’s smile something her family misses most.“She was always smiling no matter what happened,” she said.The Ministry of Public Works presented and mounted the plaque dedicated to Tyaisha at Victor Scott Primary in Pembroke, where she was a student at the time of her death. Tyaisha was killed outside of Purvis Primary School in Warwick.The Primary One student had just got off a bus from Somerset with her brother Tyshaun Brown to attend summer camp there, when tragedy struck.The bus driver stopped to let the children off and waited while they crossed the road using the pedestrian crossing.However a car pulled out from behind the bus and hit Tyaisha on the crossing.She was placed on a life support machine. Her mother and stepfather, O’Neil Moore, made the decision to switch off the machine and donate her organs after doctors said there was no hope for her recovery.Public Works Minister Derrick Burgess praised her parents “courageous decision”.He said the donation enabled Tyaisha to live on through others.“While this happened eight years ago, those that knew her will never forget,” he said at yesterday’s plaque unveiling.“They will never forget the pain of that sad morning, but I am also sure they will never forget her bright smile, her love of singing and clapping in morning assemblies.“During her short life she had an effect on so many people, lifting them up with her smile and positive can-do attitude. Indeed this is how we should remember Tyaisha happy, bright and smiling ...”Mr Burgess said Government would look to bring legislation “in the near future” to reduce any chances of a similar tragedy happening.“We also owe the community thanks for banding together to support Tyaisha’s mother and brother during that difficult time and now she will be remembered forever with today’s unveiling of a memorial plaque dedicated to her life,” he added.Tyaisha’s relative Wycliffe Williams said the family was “appreciative” their loved one would be remembered in such a way.“I am glad the Minister spoke about it being a celebration, because now a lot of the mourning is over and now it is a celebratory time for the family when we have things like this.“It just lets us know that her short life, while it was only a few years, it was very unique, a very meaningful life.”Victor Scott Primary teachers also spoke about Tyaisha. They recalled classmates paying tribute to her immediately after her death, by putting flowers and other mementos in her locker.They also honoured her in 2008, the year she would have graduated from the primary school, by dancing, singing and rejoicing in her spirit.A staff member said: “She is my angel and I will always remember her.”