Woman hit by concrete from old building

Last December, an ordinary day for Jacquline Headley took a dramatic turn, after she found herself at the mercy of a crumbling building in downtown Kingston.

She was left in pain after an object from the deteriorating structure struck her on her head and left shoulder. According to Headley, the blow to her head initially hurt more than the one to her shoulder, and after her headache went away, she thought she was fine. However, a day later, the persistent pain in her shoulder compelled her to seek medical attention. Documents obtained by THE STAR showed a series of doctor appointments and ongoing tests related to her shoulder injury.

"From mi get the lick mi a have problems with the hand because I have to be going to the doctor back to back. I am doing physiotherapy now as well as seeing the bone doctor," she lamented.

"I keep doing these tests, X-ray, ultrasound, and I missed the MRI appointment because I couldn't pay for it. They gave me a new date for June 19th and I still cannot find the money to pay for it," she added. The cost for the MRI at the University Hospital of the West Indies is $35,000, exacerbating her already dire circumstances.

With no steady source of income, Headley's predicament is worsened by the loss of her shop, which was destroyed after the fire at the Ray Ray Market.

"I can't even afford to pay my bills. I have a prescription that I can't afford to fill, so I have to be doubling up on Panadol for the pain," she said. "I'm having a hard time. I can't pay my rent, my daughter can't go to extra lessons, and she has exams, and I cannot balance the doctor visits any more. Every minute mi haffi a go back to the doctor."

A visit by THE STAR to the site of the alleged incident revealed holes in the concrete ledge hanging over the sidewalk. Crumbled concrete on the ground and exposed rusted steel overhead were clear signs of a building that had seen better days.

Passersby commented that it is normal for chunks of concrete to fall from the ledge on to the sidewalk over which it hangs.

"People who deh in this area regular know not to walk under there. Every morning you see the debris on the ground," remarked a vendor.