Urgent Call for Improved Emergency Response Following Collision in Clarendon
CLARENDON, Jamaica — In the wake of a significant vehicle collision in Clarendon, calls have intensified for improved response times from emergency services. The accident, which involved a hearse and another motor vehicle, occurred at a busy intersection on Saturday morning, leaving at least one individual critically injured.
Witnesses reported the crash took place around 8:30 a.m. at the intersection of Glenmuir Road and the Williamsfield leg of the toll road. According to the driver of the hearse, as he approached the intersection, the other vehicle attempted a right turn, resulting in a collision. The driver noted that at least one person was injured in the incident.
Justice of the Peace Ian Dyke was among the first on the scene. He described finding an injured person, believed to be a medical professional, lying on the ground in severe pain, where they remained unattended for approximately 45 minutes before an ambulance arrived. Dyke, who was en route to St Elizabeth, promptly contacted emergency services but faced a frustrating waiting period.
“I was on my way to St Elizabeth when, upon reaching the intersection, I saw a person on the ground, who seemed to be in the medical profession. I immediately called the police emergency 119 number, and after not seeing anyone for about 10-15 minutes, I then called the ambulance service,” Dyke recounted. “It took about 45 minutes for the ambulance to arrive and assist the person who was in serious pain.”
The incident has sparked an appeal to the Government for better resources and quicker response times. Dyke, a former Jamaica Defence Force member, expressed concern over the delay, emphasizing the urgent need for improvements. “We need more resources, we need quicker responses to these kinds of accidents. The person could have died, so I’m imploring the government to do better because quicker response time is needed,” he urged.
The driver of the hearse raised additional concerns, alleging that a faulty traffic light at the intersection contributed to the accident. He claimed the light was not operational at the time of the collision, a situation he has observed before. “I realised the light wasn’t working about 15 minutes after the accident. It’s faulty, and if it was working, perhaps both parties would have noticed,” he remarked, adding that he had witnessed this issue on previous occasions.
Dyke further advised caution for motorists, particularly at developing road intersections. “The roads are developing, more infrastructure is being built so the medical response teams need to be upgraded. More caution needs to be taken when persons are leaving minor roads onto major roads, they need to pay attention and observe the stop signs to avoid any form of accident,” he stated.
The incident in Clarendon underscores a critical need for enhanced emergency response capabilities and infrastructure improvements, as community members urge for decisive action to prevent future occurrences and ensure safety on the roads.
