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| Khalid Vanterpool |
By Coleen Richardson
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (September 13, 2006): Khalid Vanterpool has been hospitalized for three months. He was injured in an accident as a passenger on Red Nissan HA 102 which crashed into a house on the main road in New Guinea, Sandy Point.
The incident occurred on Monday, June 12, 2006. Vanterpool a.k.a. Kalaska who is also a performer is originally of Newtown but was living in Dieppe Bay at the time of the incident.
SKNVibes visited Vanterpool at his hospital bed recently where he recounted his experience and shares with us what he would like to see done.
The 26-year-old was hospitalized and placed in Intensive Care with head injuries and a broken left foot.
He did his best to recall what occurred because he has been having trouble with his memory since the incident.
"I don't remember when it happened," he said. "But my wife always tells me it was June 6 or 12. I was accurate with the date a few days back but not right now."
He then made a phone call to the mother of his children whom he refers to as his 'wife' to make certain of the accurate date.
He said that Shontel is the mother of his two daughters, Tahirah 2, and Shonelkha 9 months.
"She is not really my wife but I consider her to be because I always was stubborn in getting married," he said.
Vanterpool said that the bus was speeding in his opinion and that it loss control and started spinning in a circular motion.
"At that point I already started to get confused before it hit the house."
He continued: "I remember sitting in the back seat rare end of the bus when the back of the bus crashed into the house. I was confused at the time, but was not really scared. I kept saying what? What happening here? What going on?"
As he was rushed to the hospital after the collision of the bus and the house he said that he heard voices.
"I heard people around me saying, he gone een, he ain't gon' make it, he dead now," he said.
Miraculously, he survived with only a total of five surgical procedures done to his broken leg.
As he recovers he is burden with the cost of his hospital bill and the fact that a police officer from the force has not taken a statement from him.
"They came once and because of my mother giving them trouble they haven't returned but that doesn't give them the right not to come back. They are the law," he said.
Vanterpool said that the time when the police came he was 'down and out'.
"I would like something to be done because my bills are costing a lot right now," he said.
Today he is doing better from the first day, and said that the doctor is going to take off 5lbs off his leg which is a good sign for him.
~~Adz:Right~~However, a group of good Samaritans has taken it upon themselves to organize sponsor sheet programs to assist Vanterpool with his mountain of bills.
" 'The Boys Entertainment' and another group are helping me with sponsor sheets which would help for the hospital bills," he said.
He said that Shontel is taking care of him as he aims to get back on his feet.
However, he would like for the police to return for a statement from him.
"I want to get back out and continue living," he said. "I use to sing conscious reggae with a group from the ghetto of Newtown call the Melchizedek School."
He said that the school has done shows around St. Kitts and that he was one of the opening acts for a Sizzla concert in St. Kitts.
"When I get better I would work on a solo album and start performing again," he said.
SKNVibes contacted the police to which we were unable to receive any information from an officer concerning the incident.
