ROSE HALL, St James — Following Monday afternoon’s three-vehicle crash on the Rose Hall main road in St James which claimed the life of a female traffic control worker, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of the Strategic Operations Portfolio Dr Gary McKenzie has underscored the importance of careful driving to ensure the safety of both road users and site workers.

Twenty-two-year-old Bianca Wallace, a flag woman employed on a pipe-laying project, died after sustaining injuries in a crash involving a Toyota Hiace being used as a public passenger vehicle, a Toyota Rush and a tractor. Several people, including students, were injured during the incident. One student reportedly sustained serious injuries to the legs.

Another motor vehicle crash was reported on the Rose Hall main road less than 24 hours after Monday’s fatal collision. The latest incident occurred shortly before 8:00 am Tuesday. No injuries were reported.

Speaking with the Jamaica Observer, ACP McKenzie said that while there have not been many recent reports of crashes along the roadway, motorists must exercise caution when travelling through areas where rehabilitation work is under way.

“There are times where drivers are approaching areas where work is being done on the roadway, and not enough precaution is being taken,” the senior cop said.

“Also, the persons who are conducting the work, they have to take the appropriate precaution to include management of the area; for example, appropriate signs. And where persons are there assisting vehicles through the areas, they need to be appropriately dressed. They should be there with flags, and they should be there in vests,” he added.

McKenzie noted that in areas where roadwork is particularly complex, the police should be engaged to provide appropriate guidance and assistance, helping to prevent incidents and ensure the safety of both motorists and workers.

Investigations into Monday’s crash, he revealed, are ongoing.

“The investigations are being carried out but there are suggestions, based on the information that we have, that those issues may very well have come to the fore,” the ACP said.

“So whilst it is early days yet, and we have to gather the appropriate statements and to review any surveillance that may be there, we have to give the overall precaution,” he added.

On Tuesday, no activity was taking place when the Observer visited the site of the deadly crash. Only a heavy-duty vehicle was seen in the area, surrounded by yellow tape.

Wallace’s death pushed the number of road fatalities recorded since the start of the year to 112, compared with 160 over the corresponding period last year, a reduction of 48 deaths.