Barrington Flemming
Staff Reporter
Tragedy struck for two families in Glendevon, Montego Bay, on Monday morning leaving two persons dead, when a schoolgirl and a man were mowed down along Felicity Road (Blood Lane) in the community. Two other persons were also injured.
The deceased have been identified as 15-year-old Green Pond High School student, Shante Rose, and 52-year-old Franklyn Hylton, also known as ‘Shortie’, compressor operator, both of Blood Lane, Glendevon, while the injured are Shante’s mother and sister.Shante’s sister, who is also an eighth grade student at the school, is said to be in critical condition in hospital.
An eyewitness, speaking on condition of anonymity, reports that at minutes to 8 o’clock, the mother was accompanying her two daughters to get a taxi for school, when on reaching a section of the road, a white SUV being driven by a woman, said to be a nurse, attempted to overtake another vehicle, when it hit into a bump along the road, lost control and slammed into the group from behind.
The driver reportedly tried to swerve the vehicle into another direction, when it fell into a pothole, a tyre blew out and the car careened further down the road, hitting Mr. Hylton and dragging him under the vehicle. The vehicle came to a stop when the air bag was deployed.
The eyewitness further reports that an angry mob set upon the vehicle, hurling stones at it, smashing the wind screens and shouting expletives at the driver, who was later rescued by police personnel, who were early on the scene.
Meanwhile, OraineEbanks, Vice Principal of Green Pond High School, says the mood at the institution is sombre and calm as a number of teachers and students are still grieving for Shante Rose.
Mr. Ebanks said: “It was a tragic end to the life of such a promising student whose academic performance was celebrated recently when she was promoted to a higher stream. She was a people person who was loved by all. The teachers are shaken even more so than some students”, he explained.
A trauma team from the Ministry of Education Youth and Information, visited the school on Tuesday, and conducted counselling sessions with both students and teachers.
