(Jamaica Observer) West Indies batsman Runako Morton died in a car crash on the Solomon Hochoy Highway in Trinidad last night. He was 33.
Morton was driving to his home in Chase Village from a cricket match when he apparently lost control of his car, which slammed into a utility pole at approximately 11:00 pm.
An employee at Trinidad’s TV6 told the Observer that Morton had represented his team in the ECU Premier League at Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.
Morton, who was born in Nevis, represented the Leeward Islands and Trinidad & Tobago.
He played 15 Tests and 56 One-Day Internationals for the West Indies. His last match for West Indies was a Twenty20 against Australia in January 2010.
This morning, England’s Daily Mail reported in its online edition that England star Kevin Pietersen expressed shock and sadness at the news on Twitter.
“My thoughts go out to Runako Morton’s family this morning… Such sad news!! What a lovely guy & fierce competitor!! RIP bossman!!!” Pietersen wrote.
Former West Indies opener and captain Chris Gayle also reacted on Twitter, saying: “We lost a True Warrior WI Cricketer Runako Morton — May his soul rest in peace! Our memories together Live On! — My condolences to his family.”
Today, President of the West Indies Cricket Board Dr. Julian Hunte said that it was with deep sadness that the West Indies cricket family received the news of the tragic passing of Morton.
“Runako’s passing, still in the prime of life, leaves us all in shock,” President Hunte said, according to the WICB.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as we all try to come to terms with his loss,” President Hunte added.
“He will be remembered as a fierce competitor on the field who gave no quarter whether he was playing for West Indies, Leeward Islands, Nevis or Trinidad and Tobago,” Hunte noted.
