KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, and Member of Parliament (MP) for Portland Western, Daryl Vaz, is bemoaning the loss of the lives of two students of Titchfield High School in Port Antonio, Portland as a result of a traffic accident on Tuesday.

Reports are that a motor car transporting students collided with a parked motor truck about 4:00 pm on the Blueberry Hill main road in Buff Bay, Portland.

All occupants of the vehicle received injuries and were taken to the Annotto Bay Hospital where the two student passengers were pronounced dead. The other five occupants, including the driver, are reportedly being treated.

READ: Two dead, several injured in Portland accident

Devastated by the news, Minister Vaz said “This is truly heartbreaking, and I can only imagine the pain and suffering of the parents and loved ones of the victims, especially the deceased.”

“It is always devastating when we hear about persons losing their lives in this way; but it takes on a different tone when we lose our young people. Something must be done to stem the tide of motor vehicle crashes that occur in the country and it is not something that I take lightly as minister with responsibility for transport and member of parliament.”

The transport minister said he has requested that the details of the incident be made available to him as soon as possible.

“The reports are just preliminary, so of course we are awaiting the detailed report from the authorities. Both MP Ann Marie Vaz and I offer our condolences and will reach out directly to the families of the deceased. These senseless deaths on our roads are happening far too often as a result of irresponsible driving habits both by private and public vehicle operators. The National Road Safety Council will meet this week to examine further recommendations to stem the upward trend of road fatalities,” Vaz continued.