Her family would’ve been celebrating her 20th birthday with her on Sunday, but instead they were left in gloom with just memories and conversations about her funeral.

Mona-Ann Forbes, a Garvey Maceo High School graduate who was preparing to start nursing school next year, was one of three people killed in a two-vehicle crash on Melrose Hill bypass in Manchester last Friday morning.

Christene Forbes, Mona-Ann’s cousin, told the Jamaica Observer that it was a brutal loss and a brutal time.

“It’s just really hurtful. It’s really painful. It’s psychological, it’s emotional, it’s physical because I think we are as hurt as we are as upset. We feel as if we were just robbed of an opportunity with her. Today we would’ve celebrated her birthday, and now we are here planning for a funeral, and it was just carelessness and negligence,” she said.

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

The identities of two men who died in the crash have not yet been ascertained.

Forbes said it makes it harder for the family to know that, had the motorists involved been following road guidelines, the tragedy could’ve been averted.

“She would’ve been here with us today. It’s painful. It’s the worst thing I have ever experienced, it’s the worst thing my family has ever experienced. It’s just so bad. Now it’s happening to the Forbes family, tomorrow it’s going to happen to another family, yesterday it was another family. So it’s almost as if it’s just an unending crisis on our roads,” she lamented.

“Mona had dreams. Just three weeks ago I was talking to her and she told me about her intentions to start nursing school next year, and I encouraged saying whenever she’s ready, we are here to support her. She had her whole life ahead of her and she was just robbed of that opportunity because of a careless move.”

Avis Messam, Mona-Ann’s grandmother, told the Observer that it is hard to come to terms with what has happened.

“Mona has been a bundle of joy and happiness. Watching her grow was an absolute pleasure. Saying goodbye to my granddaughter is next to impossible, but I will say dance with the angels, baby girl, and happy birthday.”

Lasoria Thomas, another cousin, said: “Mona was as beautiful inside as she is outside. She was ripped from us by this awful tragedy. The beautiful memories of her will be forever etched in our hearts. She was loved by all and will surely be missed by all.”

Police report that 10 people were admitted at hospital and three others treated and released.

Meanwhile, Forbes maintained that someone should be held accountable for the death of her cousin and the other victims.

“It can’t go like that. Two other persons died in that incident. Their families are also grieving and it’s just really bad. It could’ve been so much worse. It was really brutal for us to see our little Mona go that way. It’s just too much,” she said.

Up to Friday, November 4, 385 people have died in 391 fatal collisions, according to the Road Safety Unit (RSU).

Data compiled by Global Road Safety Facility (GRSF) show that 75 per cent of road fatalities and injuries in Jamaica are in “the economically productive age groups”, between 15 and 64 years.