Two killed in Westmoreland crash

By Nakinskie Robinson    

 

Two people are dead following a motor vehicle collision along the Lindos Hill main road in Westmoreland on Wednesday.

 

They have been identified as 37-year-old Matthew Hutchinson of Rough Lane, Glendevon in St. James and 28-year-old Shaday Bennett of Watchwell, St. Elizabeth.

 

Reports from the Whithorn police indicate that about 11:30 a.m., Mr. Hutchinson was driving a Toyota Succeed motorcar when he overtook a line of traffic and collided head on with a Toyota Axio.

 

That collision resulted in an International Prostar truck colliding into the rear and left side of the Toyota Succeed.

 

The Toyota Succeed continued in the right lane which resulted in a third impact with the right front section of another truck, before coming to a stop.

 

The police were summoned and the injured persons were taken to hospital where Mr. Hutchinson and Miss Bennett, who was a passenger in the Toyota Axio, were pronounced dead.

 

While bemoaning Wednesday's deadly crash, Vice Chair of the National Road Safety Council, Dr. Lucien Jones, said the country is on track to rival last year's staggering figure of 425 fatalities.

 

As of May 25, the 170 road fatalities now barely trails last year's figure of 174.

 

Dr. Jones said swift action must be taken to quell the carnage on the country's roads. 

 

"Cameras are to be introduced to detect speeding and red light infractions because we do know that we don't have enough police to be stationed all over the island to monitor the speeding which is taking place in so many parts of the country."

 

Additionally, he said there must be an upgrade of the breathalyser system. 

 

"The data is coming out, which is contrary to what takes place internationally, that we have a very low rate of those who are involved in crashes or travelling on the roads, who have been caught driving under the influence of alcohol. International rates for those who are involved in fatal crashes is about 30%. It's extremely low in Jamaica, and part of the reason is that we have not been able to test dead drivers for alcohol and that's something that we are working on with the Ministry of Health," he suggested. 

 

He said the Council is looking forward to the implementation of the demerit points system.

 

The system will see motorists who exceed a certain number of demerit points face the possibility of their licence being automatically suspended by the Island Traffic Authority.

 

Dr. Jones believes this, among other measures, will put a dent in the number of fatalities.