A 40-year old mechanic was killed on the spot yesterday morning on the Aubrey Barker Public Road, when the CBR motor cycle he was driving became involved in an accident with a Route Number 41 (South/Stabroek) minibus at the Festival City entrance, North Ruimveldt around 09:30hrs.

Dead is Patrice Welcome, also called Mitch, of Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt Park, who operates a mechanic shop at Critchlow Street, Tucville.

Reports say, the accident happened shortly after Welcome had left the home of his aunt, Kathleen O’Neil, at Roxanne Burnham Gardens. He was apparently returning home to prepare for work at his mechanic shop.  

Persons at the scene of the accident said Welcome, who was proceeding east along Aubrey barker Road, was a short distance away from his home at Cane View Avenue, when he was struck down by the minibus which had overtaken a number of vehicles before crashing into him.

The driver was taken into police custody.

Following the accident, traffic along Aubrey Barker Road, ground to a virtual standstill, resulting in a huge build up of traffic, with some persons opting to get out of their vehicles and make their way to work and school in the area on foot.

On receiving the news that he had been struck down and was lying on the road, his aunt hastened to the spot and collapsed on seeing his lifeless body.

Later, she related that when he came to her house, he gave her $2,000 and told her that he would return some time soon. 
His father, David Welcome, arrived at the scene and he followed the body as it was taken away in a police jeep, under heavy escort, accompanied by the mournful wail of sirens.

Meanwhile, back at his mechanic shop, his employees downed tools on receiving the tragic news.
They said that Welcome had not turned out to work for the morning, but they felt sure he would be there soon, since he was a very conscientious and dedicated person who took pride in his work. He was very serious about ‘getting the job done’ and in a manner as would satisfy the clients, they said.  The men remembered him as a nice person, a ‘cool guy’ who got along well with people.

Welcome’s step-mother who lives next to the mechanic shop and interfaces with him on a daily basis, also spoke well of him.
She recalled that he had been engaged in motor repairs since he was a young boy. His first exposure to motor vehicles at that level was during the early years when his father operated a welding shop and he would observe and help him do little jobs. He later set up his own mechanic shop.

Welcome is survived by his father and step-mother his reputed wife Melissa, six children, two siblings; and other relatives.