Off The Field

West Indies fast bowler Oshane Thomas injured in car crash in Jamaica

Written by N Krishnamurthy

West Indies pace bowler Oshane Thomas is said to be home resting as he recovers from mild injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident on Sunday night, and is expected to return to training later this week.

According to Mark Neita, the athlete’s representative, Thomas was driving back into Kingston on Sunday from Clarendon where he had gone to visit his parents. While on the PJ Patterson Highway, a tyre blew and he lost control of the vehicle, which then flipped over. When the vehicle came to rest, Thomas managed to climb free and taken to the Spanish Town Hospital where he remained under observation for six hours before he was released.

Neita praised the staff at the Emergency Ward of the hospital whom he said ensured that the bowler had no broken bones or suffered from internal bleeding. He expects Thomas to be back in training by Wednesday as the player prepares to represent the Rajasthan Royals, who get their 2020 IPL campaign underway in April.

He is also hopeful for a call to the West Indies cricket team currently in Sri Lanka for an ODI series.

However, the police offered a conflicting report. The Constabulary Communications Unit (CCU) of the JCF said an Audi motorcar Thomas was driving collided with a Suzuki Swift motorcar shortly before 7 p.m.

A member of the JCF, who suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital, was driving the Suzuki, the police said.

Meanwhile, the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) has issued a statement extending its sympathies to the burly fast bowler.

“WIPA extends best wishes to West Indies and Jamaica fast-bowler Oshane Thomas who was involved in a motor vehicle accident on Sunday, February 16 in Jamaica,” the statement said.

“Thomas was reportedly involved in a two-vehicle collision on Highway 2000 near Old Harbour in St. Catherine and was taken to hospital.

WIPA’s executive and staff would like to extend our sympathies to Oshane. We wish for him a speedy and full recovery.”

About the author

N Krishnamurthy