FOUR persons were killed when a Mack panel market truck transporting vendors from Kingston to the popular Falmouth bend down market in Trelawny, plunged into a ditch in Llandovery, St Ann in the wee hours of yesterday morning.

Only hours later, 12 students, along with the driver of a Toyota Hiace minibus in which they were travelling, were injured after being involved in an accident along the Mount Carey main road in St James.

According to the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN), the Llandovery accident happened as the truck, which was carrying 12 persons – nine of whom were riding in the back – and was laden with barrels of goods for sale, proceeded down a hill made slippery by an early morning drizzle, just after 2:00 am. Police say the vehicle developed mehcanical problems and tumbled into the ditch, throwing the goods and all nine persons in the back over board.

The nine were rushed to the St Ann’s Bay hospital where four died as a result of injuries they received. Up until press time last night, the police had only identified three of the victims. They are:

. Owner Rupert Llewellyn of a Kingston 11 address, who was also travelling in the back of the truck;

. Kirk Grant of a Marverly address; and

. Nadine Bailey, 33, of August Town Road, Kingston, who was said to have been pinned under the vehicle when it veered off the road; and

. a man identified only as Freddy.

The driver of the truck and two passengers travelling in the cab escaped serious injuries.

As day broke over the hills of Llandovery, several residents converged on the scene of the accident, many to gather whatever they could from what was left of the goods that were scattered in the bushes where the truck ended up.

One of the passengers who escaped serious injuries said the driver reported that the steering wheel ‘locked’ on him.

The accident occurred on a stretch of road deemed a black spot. Several such accidents have occured along the stretch since the start of the year.

According to the St Ann police traffic department, yesterday’s accident brought to four the number of fatal accidents that have occurred on the road between St Ann’s Bay and Runaway Bay since the start of the year. Seven persons have died as a result.

Meanwhile, up until late last night the driver of the Hiace bus, along with eight of the students who were injured in the Mount Carey accident, remained in hospital.

According to the police, about 3:30 pm the bus was transporting the students from Cambridge to Montego Bay when on reaching Mount Carey, the driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle then hit an embankment and overturned.

The injured students and driver were taken to hospital where four of the students were treated and released.

The police said the other students were admitted in serious, but stable condition, while the driver’s condition was considered critical.

Most of the injured students, the police said, sustained fractured limbs and bruises.

The Anchovy police are investigating.