LISA Hanna, the Member of Parliament for St Ann South Eastern, has called on the Government to ensure that local police station vehicles have full access to the highways [and] with toll exemptions.

Responding to reports yesterday that a policeman died after his colleagues were denied emergency passage at a toll booth of the north-south leg of Highway 2000 because of their inability to pay, Hanna said emergency vehicles must have free movement and access to the highways and road networks if they are to serve, assist and better protect our citizens.

“I am deeply saddened by the untimely death of young police constable, Donald Carr who was killed in a car crash on the north-south highway near Golden Grove, St Ann Saturday night,” Hanna said in a statement last evening.

“I want to express my sincerest condolences to his family and friends and his colleagues at the Hunts Bay Police Station as they come to grips with this tragedy. I keep hope for the recovery of the other passenger who was in the vehicle.”

She said the highway has two toll stations in St Ann South Eastern for entrances and exits — Unity Valley and Golden Grove.

“As I reflect on the events surrounding this tragedy I call on the Government to ensure that local police station vehicles, for example those at the Claremont, Moneague and St Ann’s Bay police stations, have full access to the highway [and] with toll exemptions. At the moment there is no such agreement in place, which delayed their ability to respond,” Hanna said.

“Not to [allow free access] may delay police emergency access in critical incidents — which can lead to loss of lives,” she added.