Tashieka Mair, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Montego Bay police are appealing to the authorities to put a safety device in place at the John Rollins Success Primary School for children to cross the roadway safely.

This comes after a bus fatally struck a nine-year-old student of the school yesterday, as she attempted to cross the street. The student, Angeellia Gray of Lilliput in St. James, died on the spot.

Reports are that, about 2:45 p.m., Lensworth McGibbon, 34, also of Lilliput, was driving his bus to Montego Bay when, on reaching the vicinity of Sea Castles, young Gray ran across the road and was hit by the vehicle.

Principal on scene

When The Gleaner contacted the principal of the school, Yvonne Miller-Wisdom, she was on the scene of the accident. She said she was at a workshop when she received the call that one of her students had been killed.

"The teachers, right now, are really sad, some are crying," she said. "The (students and staff) will be receiving counselling tomorrow."

She described Angeellia as a quiet student and said the accident could have been avoided had there been a pedestrian crossing, a stoplight or an overhead bridge.

"It is impossible for the principal to come out here and put every child across the street," she said. "I understand that the road is under construction now, but something should have been put in place for the children."

Although not laying blame on the driver of the bus, who is being questioned by the police, Mrs. Miller-Wisdom said drivers also tend to speed when driving along the Rose Hall stretch.