Clifton Shaw explains how the swing bridge collapsed with him and 19 others in the Wag Water River in Broadgate, St. Mary, on Sunday night. Mr. Shaw was not hurt in the incident. - Photos by Norman Grindley /Deputy Chief Photographer

Latoya Grindley, Gleaner Writer

Fourteen people were injured Sunday evening when a huge swinging bridge between Broad-gate and Mahoe Hill in St. Mary suddenly collapsed into the river below. Several people were on the bridge at the time.

Residents and curious onlookers alike gathered yesterday morning on the metal passage leading up to what was once an important and widely used swinging bridge.

Fright and disbelief were reflected on their faces as they stared at the loose, rusty suspension bolts hanging in the air. The bolts once held the bridge together. The broken bridge was lying in the very still Wag River.

All this painted a grim picture of what happened Sunday evening, an incident that has sent shock waves throughout the communities of Mahoe Hill and Broadgate.

Traumatising event

What was to be a regular Sunday evening's community football match turned into a chaotic and traumatising event for residents.

Footballers and spectators alike took to the community's swinging bridge as was customary after a the regular football match, but as fate would have it, things took an ugly turn, as a man who identified himself only as Clifton explained.

"Mi only hear when one bolt pull, and hear another and then I hear another and I just feel the bridge going down, and then I just say, 'Lord take the case and give us the pillow.' And a lot of people cry out and when I look, I see blood flowing in the whole river. It was a serious ting man. Mi jus nervous," he said.

It was very obvious by his expression that he was still very shaken up by what had happened.

The freak accident has not only caused injuries, but the collapse of the bridge will now have several implications for nearby communities and the way of life for many.

"People who live over here (Broad-gate), is over there (Mahoe Hill) them do them pig rearing and goat rearing. Right now, if rain fall, people in problem," Clifton said.

The Mahoe Hill All-Age School has also felt the brunt of this accident as Beatrice Brown, principal of the school, is now forced to come up with a relocation strategy.

"The school board and education officials will be meeting on Thursday to discuss relocation options. However, the Broadgate Community Centre seems to be the better option now. Boy, my brain is just clicking right now," she said.

But relocating classes is not the only issue at hand for Ms. Brown, as she has to also come up with a way to transport the school furniture from Mahoe Hill to Broadgate - a task, she says, is going to be very difficult.

Students are now out of school and will be until there is proper relocation and facilities put in place for them.

Major concern

Residents say the 40-year-old bridge has been of major concern to them for some time and explained that they have complained about its state to authorities many times before, but nothing was ever done. They are very angry that it took this near-death accident for attention to be paid to the bridge. They are, however, still counting their blessings for not having suffered any fatalities. Residents are now urging officials to deal with the matter urgently, so that their lives can get back to normal.