Morant Bay High student seriously hurt in car crash - Family appeals for blood, cash as boy fights for his life

Instead of brandishing his new khaki uniform and heading out to school like his peers, Michael Jackson, a third-form student of Morant Bay High School in St Thomas, is now in a coma fighting for his life.

The 15-year-old was involved in a car crash along the Trinityville main road on the weekend. Reports from the police are that about 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon, the vehicle in which Michael was travelling, a brown Toyota Axio, was driving along the Coley main road towards Trinityville, when, upon reaching the vicinity of the Font Hill Bridge, a cow stepped out into the road. The driver of the car, a 19-year-old, reportedly swerved the vehicle to avoid hitting the animal and lost control, crashing into a utility pole, which broke in two.

The driver of the vehicle and three other occupants were taken to the Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment. The police said that the driver and two other teens were treated and released. However, Michael, who sustained injuries to his hip and neck, had to be transferred to the Kingston Public Hospital.

His family members are concerned about his condition.

"This morning on my way to work, I saw a group of students heading out to school and know that would have been him today as well, but he is instead lying helpless in a hospital. It made my heart drop because he was so excited to go back. He was up and about ensuring that he had everything ready... He went to collect money for school and when he was heading back home, the taxi crashed," shared Michael's stepmom, Lasana Turner-Francis.

"He is now admitted in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) at the Kingston Public Hospital and he is very critical. His right leg is totally smashed and the doctors are trying their best to see if it can be saved. His stomach is badly bruised too, but the most worrying part is his brain. It is damaged and is being assisted by a machine," she said, adding that a decision was taken to immediately induce coma.

Lamenting her stepson's life-threatening condition, Turner-Francis is calling for public assistance.

"We need help in the form of blood donations. He needs a lot of blood and assistance with funding to get the items needed for his leg," she said, adding that the family is also requesting that people pray for Michael's recovery.

The blood can be donated to any blood bank using Michael Jackson's name. The receipt can be picked up or sent to Lasana Turner-Francis at (876) 574-1247. Monetary donations can also be made to National Commercial Bank, Morant Bay branch, account #644144380 in the name of Lasana Turner-Francis