MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Police here say the driver of a Toyota Hiace who died in a two-vehicle crash on Manchester Road on the outskirts of Mandeville on Thursday was involved in another collision less than two hours earlier and was removed from around the steering wheel by a cop.

Police named the crash victim as 47-year-old Junior Samuels, a resident of Bailey’s Pen in Toll Gate, Clarendon.

“He was involved in another crash with a taxi where he collided into the back of that vehicle. A breathalyser was even used to measure if he had any alcohol in his system,” a police source told the Jamaica Observer.

The source said Samuels told a traffic cop that he was recently discharged from hospital.

“He said he was on his way to work and was on some pills as he came out of hospital, after being there for a heart condition. He didn’t look well, and the police waited for the other person to come and drive away the vehicle. Within two hours the man was dead, slumped across the driver’s seat,” the source said on Friday.

Police said about 7:40 pm Samuels was driving a Toyota Hiace minibus southbound out of Mandeville when the vehicle collided with a Honda CRV that was travelling in the opposite direction.

“I saw the van climb the embankment on the left and then went to the other side of the road and climbed the embankment over there too before overturning on top of the Honda CRV. The van basically moved like an out-of-control plane,” one eyewitness told the Observer.

JONES… the National Road Safety Council is warning all road users to be extremely vigilant during the upcoming Emancipendence celebrations.

An ambulance was dispatched from the Mandeville Regional Hospital to the scene where checks were made for signs of life on Samuels. He was, however, pronounced dead. His body was removed by Lyn’s Funeral Home undertakers.

Police said the two occupants of the Honda CRV were also examined at the crash scene by staff from the ambulance.

Statistics from the police show that up to 6:00 am Friday there were 186 fatalities from 161 crashes recorded on the Jamaica’s roads compared to 226 fatalities from 195 crashes for the corresponding period last year.

Vice-chairman of the National Road Safety Council Dr Lucien Jones has again urged caution on the roads.

“Seventy-five persons died in June and July. And, according to noted statistician and analyst Dr Parris Lyew-Ayee, during the summer months there has been an upward trend of road fatalities over the years. It is for this reason the National Road Safety Council is warning all road users to be extremely vigilant during the upcoming Emancipendence celebrations, in particular, and during the month of August generally,” Jones said on Friday in an audio release to the media.

“Slow down and live and allow others to reach home safely. Buckle up, both in the front and in the back. Place your infant in a car seat in the back of the car. Do not drink and drive. Do not smoke marijuana and drive. Do not use your cellphone without a hands-free instrument and drive. Do not run the red light. And pedestrians, be very careful on the roads; do not wear dark clothes at night. Let us all try and reach home safely during the holiday celebrations and in August, September, and for the rest of the year,” Jones added.