At least three major road crashes claimed the lives of six people on Independence Day, with some of the fatalities occurring after the 3 pm curfew hour. The road crashes occurred in Clarendon, Manchester, and St. Elizabeth on Independence Day.

The first crash happened at 12: 29 pm along the Lease Main Road in St. Elizabeth two teenagers, 18-year-old Ojay Rowe and 14-year-old Nathan Witter, both of Ridge District were killed.

According to a report from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the two were traveling on a motorcycle when Rowe took the corner too wide, which caused them to collide with a Toyota Hiace motor truck. They were pronounced dead at hospital.

At about 5 pm, 36-year-old Sanjah Caine, 36-year-old Safari Phillips, and 14-year-old Shagina Caine were traveling in a Toyota Isis when it collided with a Honda motor car in Alligator Pond, Manchester. All three persons were pronounced dead at hospital. They were all from Down District, Watson Hill in the parish.

The occupants of the Honda motor car were taken to hospital where they were treated and released.

The third fatal crash, a three-vehicle collision happened along the Bustamante High Way in Clarendon, killing a 23-year-old man and seriously injuring three others.

As at August 4, 2021, 282 people were killed in 254 crashes, which reflects an 11% increase in road fatality when compared to the corresponding period in 2021.

More in this CVM Live story from Christeen Forbes here: