MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Tomorrow, November 6, Mona-Ann Forbes would have celebrated her 20th birthday. Instead her family and friends will now have to plan her funeral after a traffic crash claimed her life, on Friday.

Forbes was one of three people killed in a two-vehicle crash on the Melrose Hill Bypass in Manchester.

The identities of two men who died in the crash have not yet been ascertained. Ten people were admitted at hospital and three others treated and released for injuries sustained in the crash.

Forbes and the two men were passengers in a taxi.

Police report that about 11:00 am the taxi, a Toyota Wish motor car, was travelling up Melrose Hill bypass towards Mandeville when a collision occurred with a Hyundai H1 minibus going in the opposite direction.

A reliable source told OBSERVER ONLINE that the minibus was transporting workers of a company contracted to do blasting on the US$188-million May Pen to Williamsfield leg of Highway 2000. The workers were reportedly conducting a post-blast survey in the area.

In May, traffic changes were made to the Melrose Hill Bypass, which is being incorporated into the highway project, to accommodate only westbound traffic. Eastbound traffic was diverted to the Old Melrose Hill Road.

Read: ‘Absolute tragedy’ 3 killed, 13 injured in Melrose Hill Bypass crash