NRSC describes Draxhall crash as tragic; road fatalities stand at 201
Vice chairman of the National Road Safety Council Dr Lucien Jones has described Saturday morning’s double fatal collision in Draxhall, St Ann as tragic.
A man and a teen girl were the victims of the devastating two-vehicle crash which occurred around 12:10 am and left six others injured.
The deceased are 49-year-old Gregory John of Lillyfield, Bamboo in St Ann and 17-year-old Daniel Lacey, a student of Pedro District in Kellits, Clarendon.
The condition of the survivors is not known at this time.
According to Dr Jones, the crash has now pushed the overall road fatalities to 201.
“The death of two persons this morning brings total fatalities for this year to 201. This is an awful tragedy and like so many others easily preventable. We grieve with the families who are grieving and we commit ourselves to continue to be vigilant warning people and encouraging all of us who are stakeholders to try and make a difference in this country,” Jones said.
He reiterated the need for vigilance by road users.
“It therefore brings into very sharp focus the message that we have been sending to all road users for a long time that we have to be extremely careful on our roads and extremely careful in those areas that we have designated black spots including the roads in St Ann, St James, Trelawny and the whole western section along with others,” he added.
Jones also urged drivers and passengers to ensure they practice road safety measures.
“Drivers have to be very careful that we don’t drink and drive, that we don’t exceed the speed limit and therefore lose control over the car sometimes, that we don’t smoke ganja and drive, that we don’t drive when we are feeling sleepy, that we wear our seatbelts when in a motor vehicle,” he implored.
Police report that a Porsche motor car with four people aboard and a Toyota Probox motor car which also had four occupants collided.
The Probox was said to be operating as a taxi.
The police said the driver of the Probox had to be extricated from the mangled vehicle.
All eight people received injuries and were taken to hospital where John who was the driver of the Probox and Lacey who was a passenger, were pronounced dead.
