3 dead, several injured in western Jamaica crashes
Published:Tuesday | December 27, 2022 | 1:08 AMHopeton Bucknor/Gleaner Writer
Three people were killed and several others left injured in three motor vehicle crashes in western Jamaica since Christmas Eve.
Those killed have been identified as 41-year-old Sydia Jarrett, of Friendship in Trelawny; 61-year-old Linton Watkin, a labourer of Hartford district in Westmoreland; and 52 year-old Barrington Francis, a farmer of Litchfield district in Trelawny.
According to reports, about 11:40 p.m. on Sunday, Jarrett was among passengers travelling in a white Toyota Coaster bus along the Greenwood main road when the vehicle collided with a black Toyota Noah minivan, which was travelling in the opposite direction.
More than 12 persons travelling in both vehicles sustained injuries and were taken to the Falmouth Hospital, where Jarrett was pronounced dead. Some of the other passengers were treated and discharged while others were admitted in serious condition.
Prior to Jarrett being killed, Francis and Watkin lost their lives in two other road accidents that occurred on Christmas Eve in Westmoreland and Trelawny.
Head and body injuries
Francis was reportedly hit by a motor vehicle while walking along a section of Lime Tree Road in Wait-A-Bit, Trelawny, about 7:40 p.m. on Saturday.
He sustained head and body injuries and was taken to the Falmouth Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Watkins and a pillion crashed while travelling on his motorcycle along a section of the Torrington main road in Savanna-la-Mar on Saturday.
Police reports indicate that about 8:30 p. m., Watkins and another man were travelling on the motorcycle. While in the process of negotiating a corner along the Torrington main road, he reportedly lost control of the motorcycle, and it crashed into in a metal signpost.
Both men were thrown from the motorcycle and sustained head and body injuries.
They were taken to the hospital, where Watkins was declared dead and the pillion admitted in serious but stable condition.
As at December 23, four hundred and sixty-five persons have died from 404 fatal collisions.
A record 487 crash fatalities were registered in 2021.