JUTC bus falls into ditch

A Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) employee escaped death yesterday when the bus he was driving crashed into a wrecker and overturned in a ditch in Temple Hall, St Andrew.

According to a policeman on the scene, the incident happened minutes after 11 a.m. as the driver, who was the sole occupant in the bus, was heading in the direction of Lawrence Tavern.

Neil Millanaise, owner of the wrecker, said he parked the vehicle at his gate and had exited it minutes before the crash.

Negotiating a corner

"Mi just park the truck and leave go somewhere and get a call say the bus run in it. The impact from the bus move the truck and bring it down to the bridge. A part of the bus leave in my truck," he said.

Alleged eyewitnesses said the driver lost control of the bus as he was negotiating a corner and hit an ackee tree. The bus then slammed into a utility pole and the wrecker before overturning.

One onlooker said she strongly believes that particular section of the roadway is cursed.

"Every minute an accident happen or somebody dead. Just the other day a man just walk out in a vehicle. Is several accidents happen in this area from the start of the year. I am glad the bus never kill off anyone because right here so is a parking spot and a walkway for people so anyone could a stand up there," she said.

THE WEEKEND STAR reached out to Cecil Thoms, JUTC's communications manager, who said he was aware of yesterday's incident but could not give a comment as he was waiting on an official report.

The Road Safety Unit is reporting that as of December 8, some 400 persons have been killed from a total of 357 crashes on the island. This represents a two per cent decrease in fatalities when compared to the similar period in 2019 when 410 persons were killed. A total of 440 persons lost their lives in traffic crashes last year.