Feminine Tragedy

FLOW MoBay Manager, JUTA operator victims of road crashes

By: Michael Nattoo/Shamir Brown

On Wednesday and Thursday, under circumstances in which both victims reportedly lost control of their vehicles, two women added to the increasing road fatalities statistics, marking off a relatively tragic week on Western Jamaica’s roads.

Dead are 40-year-old Kadesha Murray of a Martha Brae address, Trelawny, and 28-year-old Chelsie Malcolm, a JUTA operator of Cousins Cove, Hanover.

Malcolm became the first of the two women to die tragically on the road when on Wednesday, August 15, she succumbed to injuries she received in a motor vehicle accident on Lances Bay main road in the parish.

According to the Lucea Police, about 11:37 p.m., Malcolm was driving along the roadway when she lost control of her vehicle and hit a utility pole. The lawmen were alerted, and upon their arrival, Malcolm was observed suffering from injuries. She was transported to the hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

A few hours later on Thursday morning, over in St. James, Murray, store manager of the FLOW Fairview branch, was traveling in the direction of Falmouth from Montego Bay, when tragedy struck. According to the Fire Department, which responded to a call about 1:45 a.m. regarding an accident along the elegant corridor in Ironshore, Murray had crashed into a wall. Upon arrival at the scene and closer inspection of the crash site, the 2009 Nissan Bluebird in which Murray was traveling was seen on its top. A gaping hole was also observed in a nearby wall, which is reported to be the wall Murray collided with.

A few metres away, Murray’s injury-riddled body, bearing several lacerations, was seen.

Unconfirmed reports are that Murray had been heading home from an engagement, when her car lost control and careened off the roadway, ending up in a wall. It is suspected that well-liked Murray may have fallen asleep at the wheels.

FLOW HALTED

The close-knit FLOW Fairview branch, upon learning of Murray’s tragic passing, was overcome with grief. When this newsroom attempted to speak to Murray’s coworkers, it was revealed that the office had to be closed particularly earlier than it normally would, as staff members were unable to function.

In both cases, investigations continue.