MOCHO VILLAGE IN MOURNING

The community of Stewarton, Mocho Mountains, Clarendon is in mourning at this time. Condolence to the Simpsons family (Reds)

“The mangled remains of the two vehicles involved in the fatal crash on the McCooks Pen main road in St Catherine Friday night.
Transport Minister Mike Henry has indicated that the illegal actions of some members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) contributed to Friday night’s crash in St Catherine, which left four people dead.

The incident happened along the McCook’s Pen main road as two cars, travelling in opposite directions, collided.

Ten people, including a policeman, were injured. Four were confirmed dead at hospital.

Three of the deceased have so far been identified. They are: 27-year-old Tameka Tomlinson of St John’s Road in Spanish Town, St Catherine; 37-year-old Avia Simpson of Longville Park, Clarendon; and Sanny Harvey.

In a release today, Henry indicated that a member of the JDF was also injured in the crash.

The transport minister has expressed disappointment that persons sworn to uphold the law were participants in the collision. However, he did not say how they participated.

Henry says he has been informed that both motorcars were operating as public passenger vehicles without the requisite road licences and insurance coverage.

He says he will be sending a strong message to people who use their private motor vehicles illegally as public passenger vehicles. He says the practice will not be condoned as passengers must be protected against any injury that they may sustain in a crash.

Henry says he has ordered the Road Safety Unit to conduct a detailed analysis of the black boxes of the two motor vehicles.

Preliminary reports indicate that speeding and overtaking were the major contributors to the crash. The transport ministry says the collision was so intense that it caused the four airbags in both motor vehicles to be deployed.”