THE NUMBER of persons killed in motor vehicle accidents jumped to 102 on the weekend, 13 fewer than for the same period last year. The latest victim was a 29-year-old Christian, Kevin Earl Gooden. Mr. Gooden was driving home from church on Sunday afternoon when he died in a collision with a Toyota Hiace minibus.
According to police reports, Mr. Gooden was driving a white Suzuki Swift motor car when, on reaching a section of Hope Road, St. Andrew, he attempted to make a right turn and collided with the bus.
The police said he sustained multiple injuries and was pronounced dead on the spot. Five persons, who were passengers in the Hiace bus, were injured and taken to hospital.
Mr. Gooden's death came a day after a baby boy was killed along Highway 2000 in Clarendon. Five other persons were also injured in that incident.
Twenty-year-old Sharlene Kelly will find it difficult to erase from her mind the tragic incident which claimed her five-month-old son, Dominique Clarke.
She was among several other passengers travelling from Clarendon towards Kingston in a Toyota Hiace van. She had gone to the country to collect money to cover the funeral expense for Dominique's father, who was murdered a month ago.
Reports are that, about half an hour's drive from the toll booth in Clarendon, the driver of the Hiace bus lost control of the vehicle which then crashed into the median. The incident took place shortly after 6:00 p.m.
The five others injured are Anika Brown, 13; Munzelta Nelson, 57; Lashawn White, 16; and Patrick Gilbert, 29. It is suspected that the driver of the Hiace bus was speeding. The Old Harbour Police Traffic Department is investigating.
Last year, a total of 326 persons were killed in motor vehicle accidents, a reduction from 360 in 2004.
