THE JAMAICA Infrastructure Operators (JIO), managers of the toll road, has expressed condolences to the family of the five-year-old who died in a three- vehicle crash Monday, but is insisting that the accident did not happen on the Highway 2000.
JIO's public relations firm, Creative Projects, quotes JIO's operations & maintenance manager, Desmond Levy, as saying the accident that killed Rory Wellington "occurred east of the Vineyards Toll Plaza in the vicinity of the bridge leading to the Old Harbour Road and not on Highway 2000 as stated in a media report carried in The Gleaner."
The article quoted police reports that the accident occurred on the Old Harbour bypass in the vicinity of the Vineyards Housing Scheme. The bypass represents the first 14 kilometres of an over 70 kilometres stretch being constructed under phase one of Highway 2000.
"This is a very sad incident and we at JIO extend our sympathies to all the loved ones of the child," said Mr. Levy. Rory's father, Noel Wellington, who was, driving the Toyota Starlet which the police said crashed into an oncoming vehicle, was injured and taken to hospital. Two sisters in one of the vehicles involved were also hurt.
The JIO manager said that at about 4:44 p.m. on Monday, JIO staff in the control room of the Vineyards Toll Plaza received a call from a client informing them of the accident, and a Highway Patrol Officer was immediately dispatched to the scene.
However, members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force were already on hand and in control when they got there, said the release.
Mr. Levy added that due to the nature of the accident, motorists on Highway 2000 experienced some delays with traffic build-ups which at times extended westbound past the Old Harbour interchange back to the Free Town entry until the accident scene was cleared at approximately 8:15 Monday night.
