TRANSPORT MINISTRY SAYS BUS INVOLVED IN FATAL ST ANNS CRASH WAS DEFECTIVE

Transport Ministry says fatal St Ann minibus was defective

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Minister of Transport and Mining Mike Henry has expressed shock and outrage at the circumstances which led to the fatal crash of a minibus along the Llandovery main road in St Ann Friday morning.

According to a release from the ministry, preliminary reports suggest that the bus was defective and was not operating in accordance with the requirements of the Transport Authority.

Inspection of the wrecked vehicle revealed that the drive shaft, which broke resulting in the crash, was converted to fit the engine and was welded instead of being properly secured with nuts and bolts, the ministry reported.

“The welded areas showed sign of breaking over time and gave way this morning,” the release stated.

There is also the allegation that the designated driver was acting as the conductor, while the conductor was driving the bus, which was operating without a renewed road license.
Five people were killed and several admitted to hospital after the vehicle overturned when its drive shaft broke sending it crashing into another vehicle.

Henry said that the tragedy is an “indictment on non-conforming operators”, who, despite his efforts in working with the public transport sector associations to reform the industry, continue to disregard law and order.

While extending condolences to the friends and relatives of the victims, he condemned the behaviour of errant operators and has instructed the Transport Authority and the Island Traffic Authority to “spare no efforts within the law to ensure that public passenger vehicles are safe and are operating within the prescribed regulation”.