Burn victim in fiery highway crash dies

By Nakinskie Robinson    

 

Jason Miller, the burn victim involved in the fiery car crash on the P.J. Patterson Highway last Monday, has died.

 

Mr. Miller, a St. Thomas native, was one of four men who were in a Toyota Corolla, heading to work, when the driver of the vehicle swerved to avoid a collision and crashed into an iron railing. The car subsequently burst into flames.

 

A desperate plea for help for Mr. Miller's recovery was transformed to a bitter reality when the 25-year-old's family was jolted by news of his death Saturday night.

 

His cousin Shereena Robinson said while his condition was severe, the family was hopeful he would recover.

 

She argued that the staff at Kingston Public Hospital did not do enough to save his life. 

 

"We're not trying to blame anyone because we know the situation, what it was before he went there. But May Pen Hospital tell us that KPH has a better burn unit and he will be in the ICU. However, when we come up now, he was just on a ward...so to me, he wasn't getting the care that he was supposed to be getting," she asserted, noting that the family had been told the hospital was short-staffed and that they would need to feed their relative.    

 

She said the family has also taken issue with how information was communicated by KPH.

 

There are now questions surrounding the cause of his death after the hospital said Mr. Miller's oxygen went low and they tried unsuccessfuly to resuscitate him. 

 

Ms. Robinson said the family members hoped they would have received a more favourable response from those to whom they turned for assistance, including politicians. 

 

However, she said they heard nothing regarding their requests to find a hospital overseas that could assist their relative.