According to media reports, the driver of a Hiace bus died, and at least 14 people were hospitalized after the bus lost control, ran off the road, and collided with a tree Thursday morning, June 13, 2024, along the Font Hill Main Road in St Elizabeth.
The bus driver who died has been identified as Junior Ramsay, 50, of Fort Williams in Westmoreland.
The head of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB), Assistant Commissioner Gary McKenzie, stated that the tragic accident occurred sometime after 3:00 a.m.
According to ACP McKenzie, the Toyota Hiace bus was traveling east along the roadway when it veered to the left and crashed into a tree.
ACP McKenzie further stated that eyewitness reports indicated there was not much traffic on the road at the time of the accident, and the police theorized that the driver might have been distracted.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that the driver attempted to answer his phone when he lost control of the vehicle.
Passengers reportedly told the police that the driver was attempting to answer his phone when he lost control of the vehicle.
ACP McKenzie called for all drivers to exercise caution when using the public thoroughfare.
Wanted Man Identified by St Catherine Police for Crimes in Rural Communities.
Concern Over Murders in Rural St Catherine North Division
The St Catherine North police have expressed serious concern over the prevalence of murders in rural areas beyond Flat Bridge. Out of the 37 murders committed in the division since the beginning of the year, most have occurred in these rural areas. The police are actively seeking a man they believe is involved in several of these incidents.
The wanted man has been identified as Glendon Amos, also known as ‘Bull’. Deputy Superintendent of Police Paul Bernard has stated that Amos is wanted in connection to murders in Commodore, Linstead, Banbury, and surrounding areas.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Paul Bernard emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “When the rural spaces have become so dangerous that people quiver in fear, it needs urgent attention.” He pointed out that 60 percent of the murders in the division took place in rural communities.
DSP Bernard made these remarks during Thursday’s St Catherine Municipal Corporation Monthly General Meeting.
Renewed Calls for Traffic Lights at St. Catherine Intersection Following Pedestrian Fatality.
The recent passing of 20-year-old Brittny Hunter has reignited the demand for a traffic light to be installed at the intersection of Brunswick Avenue and Wynter’s Pen Road in St Catherine.
During Thursday’s monthly general meeting at the St Catherine Municipal Corporation, Councillor Patricia Harris of the Angels Division made a heartfelt plea. “The loss of this young woman is still raw and deeply distressing for many. I was informed that Hunter’s passing marks the fourth tragedy at this location, underscoring the urgent need for traffic lights,” she expressed.
The councilor emphasized the high volume of traffic in the area and highlighted the presence of several institutions nearby, including the GC Foster College of Physical Education & Sport, business processing outsourcing operations, and various commercial entities.
Fellow councilors at the meeting supported the proposal. “The area truly requires measures to prevent future accidents, injuries, and loss of lives,” remarked Councillor Herbert Garriques.
On the morning of May 31 at around 8:37 a.m., Hunter, a customer service representative, was struck by a tractor head while attempting to cross the bustling thoroughfare. Tragically, she was pronounced deceased upon arrival at the hospital.