A white van is squashed between two trucks which were involved in a 12 car collision on Highway 2000 in St. Catherine. The incident left several persons injured. - FABIAN LEDGISTER
SMOKE IS SAID to be the cause of yet another massive vehicular collision along the Kingston to May Pen stretch of Highway 2000.
Twelve vehicles were reportedly involved in the melee of metal and glass,in which several persons were injured, after pillars of smoke blanketed a few metres of the highway close to Old Harbour, St. Catherine.
A two vehicle collision that occurred on the side of the highway heading towards May Pen, paled in comparison to the anarchy on the opposite side, where ten vehicles (including two trucks and a coaster bus) had collided.
The first collision took place at about 1:05 p.m., on the side of the highway heading towards Kingston, involving a small pick-up van and a coaster bus.
"Mi a drive guh town an mi see smoke so mi slow down an come to a stop...same time me feel a bounce like mi lik sometin but mi couldn't see a ting," said Carlton Howard, the driver of the coaster bus.
The bus driver says he is lucky to be alive, as no sooner did he pull to the side, he heard several louder impacts directly behind him.
"By mi reach down here (roadside) mi hear bum-bum-bum...a God mek mi get out, cause everybody woulda dead," said the shaken driver, as he pointed behind him where two cars were literally squashed between two large trucks.
Another victim, who was involved in the massive collision that followed, shared his experience.
"I came through the toll road at 12:57 (p.m.) and 10 minutes later I saw what looked like thick clouds in the distance...I slowed down and put on my hazard, and the next thing I know a Nissan was in my back, and after that all hell broke loose," said Trevor Goldburne, a returning resident who was heading to the airport.
When THE STAR spoke to the police an investigating officer from the Ferry Traffic Post explained;"We are still collecting statements and cannot say what caused the accident, but 10 cars were involved on this (toward Kingston) side but one ran off, and two cars hit on the other side, and one ran off."
SMOKE
Representatives of Highway 2000 who were on the scene, confirmed that smoke was the cause of the accidents, but said they did everything in their power to warn motorists of the impending danger.
"We got reports of a cane fire, and we immediately mounted early warning signs about 300 metres before the site of the smoke hazard on both sides...this was done before the accident occurred," said Desmond Levy, Highway 2000's Operations Manager. He said they mounted a warning sign and a 'flagman' on each side.
This claim was strongly refuted by victims of the accident, as they say the Highway 2000 personnel came after the accident occurred.
"Bull-Crap...Bull-Crap! The first time I saw those guys (highway staff) was after the accident happened...they must have come out of a cave," said Mr. Goldburne.
Regardless, the highway's operation manager, maintained that they would not be taking responsibility for the accident.
"Some motorists obeyed the warnings but others ignored them as you can see...when there is impending danger, our obligation is to give motorists due warning. Their first recourse is to report to their insurance companies," he said.
"We again warn motorists that when they see smoke, they should not drive through it, but pull to the side and wait for it to clear," advised Levy.
- F.L.
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