This Toyota Townace is being put on to a wrecker after an accident on Monday afternoon along the Winston Jones Highway. - Photo by George Henry

MANDEVILLE, Manchester:

THE OCCUPANTS of a Toyota Townace van travelling along the Winston Jones Highway in Manchester on Monday afternoon are now thanking God after narrowly escaping death.

The occupants - three teachers and a student from Porus Primary School - were going home and were about to ascend the accident-plagued hill along the Winston Jones Highway about 4:30 p.m.

On reaching a section of that thoroughfare, Anna Haughton, one of the teachers who was driving the Townace, spotted a speeding crane coming downhill.

Out of control

"We were coming from Porus direction, up the Winston Jones Highway, and I saw a crane coming down the hill full speed and out of control. The police were there trying to beckon to us to come out of the road. By the time the police said to us, 'come out the road', I saw the crane going two side of the road; so I swerved in order not to hit into the crane," explained Haughton.

She explained that she was on her side of the road, but when she swung the van farther left, she was unable to control it. It hit an embankment before overturning.

Haughton received several cuts on her right hand, which was bleeding profusely when The Gleaner got to the scene just after 5 p.m. She was in good spirits, but noted that the injured hand was the one she used to write on the chalkboard to her grade-five class.

Another teacher complained of pain in her neck, while the other passengers, one of whom is the son of Haughton, were lucky to escape unharmed.

Alive, but shaken

"I am happy to be alive. I am okay and I am giving thanks to God because it could have been worse," testified Haughton.

Cornelius Thompson, the driver of the crane, who reportedly works with a trucking company in Kingston, could only repeat Haughton's testament. He said he was very shaken up and did not want to speak of the incident.

Onlookers said the crane came to a stop close to the highway's edge.

"Trust me, brethren, the driver deserve a medal. That man a hero, because to control such a fast-moving heavy-duty vehicle, which was all over the road and nobody don't get killed is a miracle. Plenty people could have been killed," said an eyewitness.

Gleaner checks with Porus Primary School yesterday revealed that Haughton, along with the other female teacher, was not in class. They were said to be recovering from the accident, but Haughton's son was in school.

- G.H.