MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Three Manchester families were grief-stricken on Ash Wednesday following Tuesday night’s triple fatal crash on Winston Jones Highway near here.

The crash, which claimed the lives of three men and left 11 people injured, has also renewed concerns about reckless driving and the frequent crashes on a section of the highway near a mud lake. The section of the highway near Kendal Boulevard (main road) in recent weeks has been the scene of multiple accidents.

Police and relatives identified the men as Wayne Morris, 43, a hospital porter of Cheapside district; Darnley Clarke, 25, a university student of Glenco in Spalding; and Fabian Uter, 33, a chef of Village district.

A police report said about 8:45 pm, two taxis — a Toyota Wish and Toyota Probox — were travelling downhill on the highway when the vehicles collided.The impact of the crash resulted in the Toyota Wish overturning. Several occupants of that car were flung from the vehicle. The injured people were rushed to hospital by passing motorists and the police. Two people were pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. A third person succumbed while undergoing treatment. Eleven people were admitted up to late Tuesday night.

Andrea Clarke, mother of Darnley Clarke, said her son had been on his way home from The University of West Indies (The UWI) where he was a student.

“He went to UWI on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. He had some subjects to do over, because of COVID he had suspended classes for a while, so he decided to continue,” she said.

The grief-stricken mother said her son was supportive and worked with his father at the family’s block factory in Spalding.

“Because of COVID he was involved in the business. He was going to take it to the next level,” she said.

She recalled the last conversation between her husband, herself and her son minutes before he met in the crash.

“He said he was fine. ‘Daddy I am in Mandeville. I am taking a taxi now to come up, so you can just meet me’ and that was the last we heard from him,” she said.

She said her daughter, who is a doctor, went to the crash scene to assist him.

“I heard he was trapped in [the car], because my daughter went to the scene and her intention was to assist them to ensure that they took him out properly… When she reached there it seemed as if he was already gone,” said the mother while being consoled by relatives and friends.

Karen McKenzie-Powell, the aunt of Uter, said her nephew had been on his way home.

“It is overwhelming and shocking. Fabian was full of life. He was jovial, down-to-earth, easy-going and hard-working,” she said.

She said he had come to live with her in Village following the death of her husband.

“He was like my big son that I didn’t have,” said a teary-eyed McKenzie-Powell.

Over in the communities of Allison and Cheapside, the mood was sombre at bars and shops, including one owned by Morris.

His spouse, Marie Green, told the Jamaica Observer that Morris, a father of four, had been dedicated to caring for people, especially at the Mandeville Regional Hospital.

“He was a jovial person. He loved his job; when him get day-off him naa stay home. Mi affi cuss him if him cyaa find time fi mi,” said Green.

His colleague Cephas Reid said Morris was a dedicated worker.

“He was a very decent, humble and nice colleague. A very committed person. It is very hard to know that we lost a person like this, and where he works everybody at the Mandeville Hospital supposed to miss him…” said Reid.

On Tuesday night, scores of workers at the Accident and Emergency ward at the hospital were plunged into mourning as they saw Morris’ body following the crash.

Councillor Mario Mitchell (People’s National Party, Bellefield Division) pointed to the Winston Jones, Shooters Hill, Spur Tree and Melrose Hill as crash-prone areas that need prioritising for road safety.

“They are crash spots in Manchester and I am renewing all my calls again so that some precautions must be taken. On the Winston Jones Highway is a little bit rough and unsafe. The surface needs to be addressed and I am calling on the National Work Agency (NWA),” he said.

“The lighting on the highway even though JPS came three months ago, because I highlighted the issue and the lights have been repaired. The highway is still very dark by international standards and it is still poor. I am asking that a proper [debushing] be done. I see some going on now, but [there] still needs to be a wider bushing of the highway,” he said.

“We have lost three productive men of our society. This cannot continue and I am asking the relevant authorities to ensure that we [address the issue], if we have four crash spots, it is concerning,” added councillor Mitchell.

“These highways are very steep and dangerous. Most of the crashes are taking place at night, because the visibility is poor… Maybe rumble strips can be placed there. I am asking that the highway patrol be more visible even at night,” he added.

Mayor of Mandeville Donovan Mitchell urged motorists to be cautious on the parish’s road network.

“I was just about a few chains down the road when the accident occurred and when I got here there were just about two cars in front of me… I think the [crash] occurred because of speeding, because both vehicles were travelling in the same direction. I just ask that God be with the families and we take caution on our roadways. The road surface is not as level as we would want [it] to be, but we ask that motorists take their time on the road,” said Mayor Mitchell.