ST ANN, Jamaica— Vice Chairman of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) Dr Lucien Jones is bemoaning the number of road fatalities so far in 2024.

His remarks come on the heels of Friday’s fiery four-vehicle collision in Discovery Bay, St Ann which left two people dead and others injured.

He said the tragic crash brings to an end the single fatal crashes that have been happening.

“The terrible crash in St Ann in Pear Tree in fact smashes the trend which started the year where we have only had before six people dead— 3 pedestrians and 3 motorcyclists— so the reported two persons who died in a fiery crash brings to an end single crash fatalities which we have experienced,” Dr Jones said.

He said it’s being theorised that speeding was the main factor in the crash.

“The fact that the cars burst into flames at the very least means that someone was going at excessive speed and it is a feature which we spoke about last year which we don’t want to see this year and unfortunately has happened for the first time this year,” Jones said.

He again pleaded with motorists to desist from endangering their lives and the lives of others.

“We really have to get into the minds of our drivers slow down and live and let somebody else live, right now as the vice chairman of the National Road Safety Council I am very disturbed that we have begun this year with very encouraging results and now we have this awful crash, we can do better we have to do better this year,” he said.

According to the police, around 3:35 pm a Higer motor truck was travelling westerly towards Discovery Bay when it is alleged that a BMW motorcar which was travelling easterly towards Runaway Bay attempted to overtake a Toyota Mark X and collided with the Higer motor truck.

READ: Two dead in fiery St Ann crash

The Higer motor truck then veered off the road and became lodged in mangroves.

It’s reported that the Toyota Mark X motorcar then collided with the rear of a Toyota Tundra motor truck which was also travelling easterly.

Lawmen say the Toyota Tundra, the Toyota Mark X and the BMW motor car all veered off the road and were lodged together and then caught fire.

Police and firefighters responded and following cooling down operations, the charred remains of two people were found among the debris.

They have not been identified.

The occupants of the other vehicle were taken to hospital for treatment.