Suspected sabotage led to the derailment of a Kingston-to-Montego Bay train on Friday, August 24, 1973, near the Riverton City bridge, resulting in the death of Florence Sang, 44, and injuries to 70 others. Railway authorities discovered bolts removed from critical sections of the track, pointing to deliberate tampering. The tragedy occurred just minutes after the train departed Kingston as the driver spotted the defect too late to prevent the crash. Authorities are investigating, with damage estimated at $100,000.

Published Saturday August 25, 1973

One Killed, 70 injured in train derailment

SUSPECTED SABOTAGE to railway lines at the Riverton City bridge, four miles out of Kingston, caused the derailment of the Kingston-Montego Bay diesel yesterday morning, killing one woman and injuring about 70 persons.

Railway authorities have established that the bolts on the “fishplates” holding together a section of the lines were removed.

“So far as we can see, every evidence points to the track having been tampered with by outside parties,” general manager Mr. A.A. Bennett said.

Damage to the diesel and the track is estimated at $100,000.

An Alcan oil train had travelled on the same track at about 1:15 the same morning from Kingston to just outside Linstead.

Early theory was that the saboteurs were after the payroll, which was transported weekly from Kingston, to pay the line crewmen of the Jamaica Railway Corporation.

The payroll left on Thursday.

Sole fatality of the early morning tragedy is Mrs. Florence Sang, 44, of 127A, Border Avenue, Havendale, St. Andrew, whose crushed body was recovered by rescuers trapped beneath one of the four coaches.

The injured, mainly suffering from abrasions and shock, were treated at the Kingston Public Hospital, the University Hospital, and the Spanish Town Hospital.

Four were admitted, one of whom was later discharged. Their condition was said to be improving.

They are Mr. Linton Allen, 20, of 8 Grants Pen Road, Kingston 8, who is a patient at the KPH; Mrs. Marcia Pottinger, 42, and her daughter, Miss Heather Pottinger, 18, who were both admitted to the University Hospital; and Miss Ann Sang, daughter of the deceased, who was treated at the Spanish Town Hospital.

The accident happened at about 7:08. The diesel, with some 300 passengers, had left the Kingston station eight minutes earlier and was proceeding at “moderate speed” across the Riverton City bridge.

Reports say that shortly after passing the bridge, the driver, Mr. W. Estick, who won the JRC’s “best driver” award two years ago, sighted the defect in the track.

He applied his emergency brakes and activated the alarm system, but the train went careening off the track, creating panic and confusion among the trapped occupants.

Conductor Mr. Linton Findlay recalled: “I was going across from one car to another when I heard the emergency. Then I found myself spinning around. I ducked instinctively and a few seconds later, I found myself lying on the floor on top of another passenger.”

Mr. Findlay said he managed to climb out through an open window, intent on getting the news to the railway station.

When he emerged “people were shouting and screaming for 'mercy and murder' all over the place. Everything was in confusion.”

Within minutes of the crash, scores of people from adjoining settlements converged on the scene.

Several told The Gleaner that they arrived to find people running helter-skelter all over. Young children were crying for their mothers. Passengers searched for their baggage and their companions.

Mrs. Sang was not among the fortunate as rescuers found her in a vertical position, “her feet high in the air and her head deep in the ground,” sunk by the impact of the falling car.

It took half an hour to dig her out.

Her relatives said that Mrs. Sang was on her way to Mandeville to attend the wedding of a friend. She was to be the bridesmaid. Her young daughter, Ann, who was with her, was slightly injured. Her young son, Tony, was unhurt.

“I was sitting by the window, and she was in the middle,” the youngster said yesterday. I don’t even know what happened. I only found myself on the ground and someone pulled me out. I don’t know who.”

The police arrived on the scene shortly after the crash, and assisted by a Jamaica Defence Force helicopter, managed to get some of the victims to hospital.

Two JRC trains were dispatched to the scene and helped to transport the injured to hospital in Kingston and Spanish Town.

Prime Minister the Hon. Michael Manley, along with Transport Minister the Hon. Eric Bell, visited the scene. The Minister is expected to announce an inquiry.

A three-man Railway committee headed by traffic manager Mr. L.L. McNally is investigating the mishap.

Police from Hunt’s Bay are also investigating.

Railway officials estimated that it will take between two and three days to clear the track. In the meantime, rail service will continue to operate between Spanish Town and other parts of the island.

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