- Identities still unknown
Barrington Flemming/Shamir Brown
The authorities, up to press time, were still struggling to ascertain the identities of the charred remains of two male passengers and the body of a woman, all of whom died in a motor vehicle accident along the Duncans main road in Trelawny on Monday.
The fatal accident is reported to have taken place at about 1:45 p.m., when a Nissan Tiida, which was heading in the direction of Falmouth, veered out of the designated lane and collided with a Toyota Wish – being operated as a taxi and being driven in the opposite direction – along the Duncans main road going towards Discovery Bay.
The Nissan Tiida reportedly burst into flames upon impact, resulting in the two male occupants, who were reportedly trapped in the vehicle, being burnt beyond recognition. One female passenger from the Toyota Wish motorcar received multiple injuries and died at the scene. Six other persons who were also reportedly travelling in the Wish had to be transported to hospital for treatment. The force of the impact reportedly dislodged the engine of the Tiida, which was thrust out of the vehicle. One unit from the Falmouth fire department extinguished the blaze.
Meanwhile, the National Road Safety Council has reported that 10 less fatalities were recorded in Western Jamaica up to May 1 this year. Statistical data indicate that 39 fatalities were recorded when compared with 49 for the same period last year.
The parish of Trelawny leads the way with 10 fatalities, Hanover 9, St. James 8, St. Elizabeth 7 and Westmoreland 5.
Westmoreland, however, had a good showing with a sharp decline from 24 road fatalities last year down to five this year, an 80 percent decline.
On the national scene 105 fatalities were recorded from 92 accidents since the start of the year which is 5 less fatalities when compared with the same period last year with 102 fatal accidents and 119 fatalities.