Road Safety Report
KINGSTON, Jamaica–Ten people perished in motor vehicle crashes during the week ending Friday, November 17, according to the Island Traffic Authority and the Road Safety Unit (RSU) of the Ministry of Transport.
Among those killed during the week under review are the five who were traveling in the ill-fated Toyota Noah taxi at about 3:30 p.m. on Monday, November 13, 2023, along the Bluefields main road in Westmoreland.
Among those killed during the review period were five individuals who were traveling in the ill-fated Toyota Noah taxi at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Monday, November 13, 2023, along the Bluefields main road in Westmoreland.
According to the RSU, the public passenger vehicle collided with a Shacman motor truck and exited the roadway onto the right embankment, colliding with a huge tree. Several passengers suffered injuries, and five were pronounced dead at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital.
According to the RSU, the public passenger vehicle collided with a Shacman motor truck and veered off the road, crashing into a large tree. Several passengers sustained injuries, and five individuals were pronounced dead at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital.
Those killed were four females whose ages were 65, 54, 39, and 15, and a male whose age is unknown.
The victims included four females aged 65, 54, 39, and 15, as well as a male whose age remains unknown.
Other fatalities in separate accidents during the past week included:
- Two private motor car drivers.
- One private motor car passenger.
- The driver of a commercial motor vehicle.
- A pedal cyclist.
Meanwhile, a total of 360 people were killed in 328 fatal crashes as of November 17, according to the latest statistics released by the RSU on Friday. The numbers represent a 10 percent decrease in fatal crashes and a 14 percent decrease in fatalities compared to a similar period in 2022.
To date, males account for 875% of the road fatalities as of November 17, 2023, while females account for 13%.
Elderly butcher dies in jail while charged with wife’s gruesome murder.
SPANISH TOWN, ST CATHERINE, Jamaica–An elderly retired butcher, whom the police charged with the chopping death of his 72-year-old wife at their home in Bog Walk, St Catherine, has died in custody.
Cecil McDonald died in police custody sometime during the week ending November 2023. The authorities told the St Catherine Parish Court on Thursday, November 16, 2023.
McDonald, who was said to be in his late 70s, suffered from several ailments, including mental illness.
As a result of the development, the murder case related to the death of his wife, Evette McDonald, a retired nurse, was discontinued.
The couple resided at Azar Lane in Bog Walk, St Catherine up to the time of Evette’s grisly murder at about 2 a.m. on Saturday, April 15, 2023.
The allegations, as outlined by the police, were that Evette reportedly went to use the bathroom at her house and was attacked and chopped multiple times by her husband.