This policeman joins curious onlookers at yesterday's accident scene on the Mandela Highway examining the overturned Toyota Hiace mini-bus. -Norman Grindley photoJohn Myers Jr., Staff Reporter
ONE PERSON was killed and five others injured, when the driver of a mini-bus loaded with passengers lost control of the vehicle, which hit an enbankment, ran into a metal light pole and overturned on the Mandela Highway, St. Catherine yesterday.
The dead man was identified as Michael Berry, of Dam Head, Spanish Town. Police on the scene of the accident identified the driver of the Toyota Hiace minibus, which plies the Spanish Town to Kingston route, as a policeman known to them only as "Corporal Freebourne" and attached to the Police Traffic Headquarters in Kingston. However, the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) said last night that they could not confirm whether or not he is a policeman, nor could they give a name. The other four persons, along with the policeman, have been admitted in serious but stable condition to the Spanish Town Hospital.
According to investigating officer, Sergeant Jeffrey McDonald, of the Police Patrol Division, the mini-bus was travelling eastwards along the Mandela Highway when, on reaching Cane Cart crossing, the left rear tyre blew out. The driver lost control of the vehicle, which swerved to the right, hit an embankment, charged into a metal light pole and overturned on the right side.
As a result of the accident, west bound traffic on the highway piled up as far as the Six Mile Bridge, on Spanish Town Road, as many curious motorists slowed or stopped to look.
When The Gleaner arrived on the scene, the injured were already taken to hospital. However, the body of the deceased man was still lying on the ground, in the middle of the dual carriage way, beside the mangled mini-bus.
Sergeant McDonald said the mini-bus was believed to be carrying about 10 passengers at the time of the accident.
