NRSC saddened by multiple fatalities in St Ann crash

The National Road Safety Council is calling on Jamaicans to take personal responsibility for their safety while using the roads in light of the tragic loss of five lives in Friday’s crash in Llandovery, St Ann.

Dr Lucien Jones, vice-chairman of the NRSC, said in a release to the press that the council is “horrified at the tragic loss of lives in the road crash, and noted that it “could have been avoided”.

“The council is saddened by the loss of five lives in one road crash. We commiserate with the families who now suffer from this loss," he said.

"We are asking all Jamaicans to take personal responsibility for their safety on our roads, as events such as these can lead to a life-changing experience and a lot of pain, grief, and suffering for the victims' loved ones,” he added.

Since the start of the year, 160 lives have been lost on our roads, in comparison to 149 for the corresponding period of 2015.

According to reports from the police regarding Friday’s incident, the crash occurred when the driving shaft of the speeding minibus in which the victims were travelling, became dislocated, and jammed into the surface of the road. This resulted in the vehicle flipping and subsequently colliding in an SUV travelling in the opposite direction.

"We have been heartened by the recent decline in motorbike crashes which accounted for the bulk of fatalities since the start of the year, said Paula Fletcher, the executive director of the National Road Safety Council.

“However, when multiple fatalities such as these occur, we again begin to see an upturn in the rate of fatalities. As a nation we must not only be shocked at tragic fatal crashes, but we must also remain vigilant at all times to safeguard against the loss of precious lives on our roads," she added.

She further stated that the cause of this crash underscores the need for the continuous spot-checks.