KINGSTON, Jamaica — Vice Chairman of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) Dr Lucien Jones says Tuesday’s three-person fatal crash in Hanover is a stark reminder of the tragedy unfolding on the nation’s roads, as he calls for more implementation of sanctions.

Sixty-five-year-old Calbert Hart of Cousins Cove, Hanover, 47-year-old Owen Jackson of Cauldwell, Hanover and 37-year-old Ricardo Baylis, a labourer of Haughton, Green Island, in the parish were all killed in the collision.

Reports from the Green Island Police are that about 5:50 pm, a brown Toyota Hilux was travelling westerly toward Negril when, on reaching a section of the main road, the driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle then veered off its path and collided with a green Toyota Corolla motor car driven by Jackson.

The police were alerted to the scene where Hart and Jackson were pronounced dead. Baylis and the driver of the Hilux were transported to the hospital, where Baylis died while undergoing treatment. The driver of the van and the fourth occupant travelling in the Toyota Corolla were hospitalised.

The possible main causes of the incident were listed as excess speed, skidding and losing control of the vehicle.

“In the preliminary analysis of what happened yesterday, there is a recurring decimal: excess speeding, skidding and losing control, which translates to drivers just going way too quickly. Speeding is a major problem in our country, which we need to absolutely overcome if we are going to save lives.”

Referencing the fatal five-person crash that occurred in Trelawny in early July, Jones said, “What is alarming is that the number of private motor car drivers and passengers, those numbers have increased sharply from last year.”

READ: Crash that left five dead described as most devastating in public transportation sector

He compared this to the reduced motorcycle and pedestrian deaths so far this year, but pointed out that road deaths were only one per cent lower than in 2024.

“We are losing momentum in our targeting of 2025 [as] the year where we had hoped to significantly reduce the number of fatalities,” Jones said, adding, “The surety and swiftness of sanctions when you speed, when you break the law is the most effective way of getting people to cut their speed.”

He maintained that society as a whole must come together to ensure the efficient working of the mechanisms for accountability to increase compliance with the rules of the road.