Amal Clarke

WESTERN BUREAU:

Words were inadequate to describe the emotions of Jennifer Clarke yesterday as she tried to cope with the death of her son, Amal Clarke.

Amal died in a motor-vehicle crash on Sunday, while heading to Munro College for boarding, ahead of the school term which started yesterday.

Mrs Clarke, who is a mother of three, remembered her 17-year-old son as a loving, disciplined and caring Christian who excelled in his studies at Munro while maintaining a solid relationship with his family.

"He was a model that would be the envy of any parent. He did well in school, he was well mannered and loved his family," she said. "Words can't describe how I am feeling now. Only God understands."

So extraordinary was Amal's performance at school that he was selected to represent Jamaica and Munro College at a United Nations Conference in February.

His recent achievement was among several other noted accomplishments, including his ability to speak fluent French and Spanish. He acted as a substitute French teacher at his school in the past.

The lower-sixth form student died after the car, which was being driven in by his older brother Mikhail, was reportedly hit by a minibus along the Barbary Hall main road in St Elizabeth.

Mikhail and a friend, Dennis Bruce, were injured in the incident and were later hospitalised.

Amal's sister, Anya - a social worker with the Jamaica Constabulary Force - noted that the death of her brother had shocked the family.

She said some of her colleagues will be offering counselling to the family.

A bewildered Jennifer Clarke, mother of 17-year-old Amal Clarke, tries to understand the circumstances surrounding the crash in which her son was killed on Sunday. At left is Mrs Clarke's sister, Dorren Remiki-Gaetano. - photo by Sheena Gayle