Anthony Henry, Staff Reporter
THREE women are dead and nine others are seriously injured following an accident along Orange Street, Kingston, involving a cesspool emptier truck and a Toyota Hiace mini bus transporting persons to market early yesterday morning.
The dead have been identified as Ina Whilie, 60, and Daphne Cross, 39, both of Rock Hall, St. Andrew; and Evelyn Edwards, 40, of Sligoville, St. Catherine. The accident took place along Orange Street and Geffrard Place, near the old service station at about 4:30 a.m.
Sergeant Dennis Campbell of the Fletchers Land Police Station described the scene as "pure carnage".
"It is a miracle how more persons have not died. The bus has been destroyed, the cab of the truck was wrecked and there was food all over the place," he said.
The Fletchers Land police said that the truck, operated by Alpha Cesspool Limited, was travelling north along Orange Street when it attempted to make a right turn. While making the turn, it was hit by the Toyota Hiace bus.
"Ina who was in the front seat died instantly. The others may have died in hospital because when I came on the scene all of them were taken to the hospital," Sergeant Campbell said. "Ms. Whilie died of massive head injuries."
According to the police, both drivers left the scene shortly after the accident, and had not been located up to press time.
