MANCHESTER, Jamaica – Police and a political representative are reporting that a nine-year-old boy has been admitted in critical condition at hospital after the child was hit by a vehicle on the Prospect main road in Manchester on Monday.

The incident reportedly took place a short distance from the area, where a week ago, a schoolboy died when he was struck from his bicycle by a Toyota Hiace on the Prospect main road.

Police said the driver of the vehicle involved in Monday’s incident reported the crash at the Alligator Pond Police Station and told cops that the child walked into the path of his vehicle. Police said the child apparently walked from his home onto the main road when he was hit by the vehicle. The vehicle has been seized at the police station as a probe has been launched into the incident.

Councillor Omar Robinson (People’s National Party, Alligator Pond division), for the second consecutive day raised alarm regarding crashes involving children in the Prospect area.

“We just came out of a situation where we are mourning the loss of a [child] Malique Barnes. I am just learning last night of another incident, a stone’s throw away from where that first incident occurred on the Prospect main road, it is sad,” said Robinson.

“The family are unsure of what will happen with this child being hospitalised. I learnt that both hands are broken after a dialogue with his parents, a nine-year-old. I even saw the driver of the vehicle this morning and he is still in shock,” he added.

The councillor reiterated his appeal to motorists and went further to call on parents to be vigilant in supervising their children.

“My plea at this time is for both motorists and parents to exercise caution, and especially for that area which is now a hotspot… We learnt about a speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour that I am questioning. Drivers, the area is a built-up area,” he said.

“It is an area that children traverse to and from districts by crossing the road, it is an area that you must realise that you are close to a school zone, and the children are on holiday.”

“I want parents and motorists to be vigilant at this time. I have been in dialogue with pastors in the area and we will have a prayer vigil very soon, just to take charge of that area and have it sanctified,” he added.

He said children should be constantly reminded about how to safely use the nation’s roads.

“All of these incidents happened in less than a week. I plead for the parents to be more vigilant. Make sure that you are supervising the children. Make sure that you know their whereabouts and warn them about the safety of using the street,” he said.

“We don’t want another case of fatality due to an accident, so I am pleading again to the parents and motorists to be vigilant and watchful as they use our nation’s roads.”

–        Kasey Williams