CLARENDON, Jamaica – The Transport Authority says 21 students from the Garvey Maceo High School were today hospitalised after a motor vehicle crash on the Parnassus main road in Clarendon.

In a news release, the Transport Authority said four of the injured students are considered “critical”.

The news release did not provide details on the crash, but Managing Director of the Transport Authority Donald Foster said his operations team is investigating the incident and will be increasing enforcement operations to deter any illegal activities.

Meanwhile, the Transport Authority issued a stern warning to Public Passenger Vehicle (PPV) operators to exercise due care while transporting passengers and ensure compliance with the road traffic laws.

It appealed to operators of school buses to observe the laws, the approved Transport Authority standards, and the terms and conditions of their road licences given the noticeable increase in crashes involving the transportation of students.

Foster said bus operators are custodians of the lives of passengers and should take this responsibility seriously.

He also called on the Parent Teachers Associations to play a greater role, in supporting the Safe School Bus programme, which started in 2014, and urged students and the travelling public to “Choose Right and Choose Life”, when selecting public transportation.