Runner’s good deed ended in tragic accident

Road accident victim Nakeno Creighton was on his way to visit three autistic children when he was killed in a road crash, his grieving family revealed -yesterday.

Aunt Jameka Talbot said the 17-year-old had befriended the three youngsters at school. They had been overseas and Nakeno had defended them against youngsters who picked on them.

Nakeno died on Wednesday evening after his motorcycle was in collision with a truck on St David’s Road, St David’s, near Bay Estates Road, around 5.35pm.

Ms Talbot told us: “He had a very close relationship with the three children. They had just come back because they had been with their father for a month. He always stuck up for these children at school — he told people not to tease them because they were different.”

She added: “He was a very special child — we are trying to hold it all together, but because his death was so sudden, it’s just hard.

“We know that God has everyone’s lives in a book and we understand it was his time, but it’s hard. We were very close and did everything together.”

Nakeno’s father Raymond Creighton was last night preparing to make the heartbreak journey from his home in Florida to Bermuda to be with mom Ina Trott and the dead youth’s two brothers.

Nakeno died on Wednesday evening after his scooter was in collision with a truck on St David’s Road, St David’s, near Bay Estates Road around 5.35pm.

He suffered severe head injuries and was rushed to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, but was later pronounced dead by doctors.

Ms Talbot said: “He wasn’t an average kid. He was a joker and always had a grin on his face — the class clown, very much like his mother was when she was younger.

“But he never harmed anyone. He respected people. He was very sports-orientated, but he was best known for his running.”

‘A loving person’

But she added that he also played for his country at rugby and also played football for Hamilton Parish, as well as trying out cycling and baseball.

Ms Talbot said: “He was a loving person and we are all going to miss him terribly.”

Last night, the running world paid tribute to Nakeno.

Donna Watson, president of Bermuda National Athletics Association, who is in Moscow in the run-up to the World Championships, said: “I was so saddened to hear the news this morning.

“Nakeno Creighton was one of our promising young athletes. Unfortunately he stopped running track a few years ago but every now and then, he would come out and run in either one of our cross country races or a track meet.

“Nakeno was one of our top middle/distance runners and we, the BNAA, thought he was going to have a very bright future in athletics.

“Bermuda is known for its distance runners — Nakeno was one of them we always hoped he would come back to the sport and we were always very excited when we saw him entered in a race, be it on the road, cross country or the track.

“He was also one of our top runners in the Front Street Mile. 

“He was so talented, a tough competitor and a mild personality.

“Our hearts go out to his mom as we know he was the joy of her life. We continually talk to our athletes about being careful on their motor bikes as we have had so many of them, especially the boys, get in very bad bike accidents and see them knocked out of competition for the season.”

A tough young runner

Ms Watson added: “Our hearts again really go out to his mom and we will truly miss seeing Nakeno’s bright smile.

“He reminded us of Kip Keino the African distance runner as he had very long legs and always had a smile on his face but was a very tough runner.”

Nakeno, the middle of three sons, attended Francis Patton Primary School and Clearwater Middle School before moving on to CedarBridge Academy, where he was due to start the S4 class at the beginning of the new school year.

The family, originally from the Bailey’s Bay area, have lived in St David’s for more than a decade.

A police spokesman said yesterday afternoon: “Apparently there were a number of individuals on bus number 6 that left St. George’s heading to St. David’s at 5:15pm. Wednesday, 15 minutes before the fatal collision that claimed the life of 17 -year-old Nakeno Creighton of St. George’s.

“We are specifically appealing to any of those bus passengers that may have witnessed the incident to contact Police Constable Walter Jackson at
the Roads Policing Unit on 247-1788.”

Layfield’s tribute

Ex-pro wrestler turned rugby coach John Layfield today paid tribute to tragic road accident victim Nakeno Creighton.

Beyond Rugby chief Mr Layfield, who helped coach the talented teenager, who represented his country on the rugby pitch, said: “We were so honoured to work with this fine young man.

“He is the perfect example of the great young men that our programme is honoured to serve. Keno naturally embodied the core values of Beyond Rugby.

“His athleticism and attitude on and off the field enabled him to represent his country proudly in Toronto earlier this year.

“There is a hole in our programme that will never be filled and Bermuda has lost a bright part of its future. Nakeno will be sorely missed.”

Former WWE wrestling star Mr Layfield was speaking after 17-year-old Nakeno died on Wednesday evening after his bike was in collision with a truck in St David’s.

The CedarBridge Academy pupil was on his way to visit three autistic children he had befriended and protected at school when the incident happened.

Bermuda Rugby Football Union youth development officer Patrick Calow said: “Keno was a member of the first CedarBridge rugby team. He joined the Beyond Rugby team two years ago and was a natural athlete who improved quickly.

“His eagerness to improve as a player was driven not by ego but by his desire to contribute to his team’s success.”

Mr Calow added: “On the field, he was a talented, passionate and committed rugby player. He was fast, selfless and incredibly coachable.

“His commitment and hard work earned him a position on the under-16 national team earlier this year. Over the last two years, I have had the pleasure of coaching him and getting to know him as a person.

“I am a better person for knowing him and life won’t be the same without him.”

Family Centre community worker Darren Woods said: “Keno was full of life. He was competitive, funny and went out of his way to make others smile.

“Without trying, and often without knowing, Keno brightened the lives of people around him; his friends, his team mates and his coaches.

“It was a pleasure to work with him and he will truly be missed.”