Petrina Francis and Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporters
The Toyota Coaster bus on the right was crushed by this International trailer after both vehicles collided on Spanish Town Road yesterday evening in the vicinity of the Red Stripe plant. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
THREE PERSONS were killed and at least 25 injured in a ghastly auto crash yesterday evening along Spanish Town Road in St. Andrew.
Up to press time last night, only one of the dead had been identified. He is 43-year-old Cedric Simpson, of a Montego Bay address.
The accident brings the number of road fatalities to at least 135 since January, eight more than for the same period last year.
Corporal Devon Williams of the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) said about 5:20 p.m. yesterday, an International trailer head and a Toyota Land Cruiser were travelling along Spanish Town Road towards Three Miles, when on reaching the Red Stripe plant, the trailer hit the back of the Land Cruiser. Both vehicles spun across the dual carriageway into the westbound lane. The trailer then collided with a Toyota Coaster bus en route to Hanover, forcing the bus into Red Stripe's perimeter fence.
Corporal Williams said at least 40 persons were on the bus. The injured passengers, including three children, were taken to the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) and the Bustamante Hospital for Children.
Anthony Stewart, driver of the Toyota Land Cruiser, told The Gleaner that he was driving towards Three Miles when he saw three trailers speeding in the same direction. He said the driver and passenger of the trailer involved in the accident fled the scene after the collision.
"When mi look, mi si one drop out through di window and di driver jump out and run cross the road," he said.
When The Gleaner arrived at the hospital about 6:00 p.m. several ambulances and private vehicles were rushing injured passengers to be treated. Some of the injured were bleeding profusely while others appeared to have broken limbs.
Police personnel told The Gleaner that there was a resource shortage at the hospital, forcing staff to transport some of the injured on makeshift stretchers.
KPH was a scene of chaos as scores of onlookers gathered outside the Accident and Emergency Ward to get a view of what was happening. The police, who were out in their numbers, attempted to block the curious onlookers.
Deloris Cameron, a sister of Mr. Simpson, was in shock when she got the news of her brother's death.
"Mi tink Devon dey a country," she wailed. Ms. Cameron is also mourning the death of her son who is to be buried on Sunday.
The hospital staff were tight-lipped about how medical staff were coping, but one staff member said most hospital staff were on hand to help.
Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of traffic, Elan Powell, cautioned motorists to be careful and refrain from speeding. He added that the police would be stricter in enforcing traffic laws.
"We will be out there looking for you," he said. "Those who have ears, let them hear," he warned.
Last week, five persons were killed in an accident on Highway 2000. Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Water, Housing, Transport and Works, said Government plans to institute several measures to make the roads safer.
Gleaner Writer Gareth Manning contributed to this story.
