58-y-o survives near-fatal accident
Published:Thursday | April 26, 2012 | 12:00 AM
Karen Sudu, Gleaner Writer
BOG WALK, St Catherine:
UPERT THOMPSON, a 58-year-old driver of Church Road in Bog Walk, St Catherine, has much to give thanks for as his life was spared following the near-fatal crash which resulted in his truck being overturned about 6:15 a.m. on Tuesday.
Thompson was transporting 520 cases of milk from Nestlé Jamaica Limited, Bog Walk, to Kingston, when the crash happened in the vicinity of Trade Winds Citrus Limited along the Bog Walk main road.
"Mi a come, mi see the water in the road, but true we drive here everyday, mi never know say the hole dig out so deep and the truck just rock so and it just turned right over," explained Thompson, as he held his chest and grimaced in pain.
Thompson sustained slight injuries to his chest and right leg and was taken to the Linstead hospital for treatment. He had high praises for the Bog Walk police, headed by Sergeant Sebert Nelson, for arriving on the scene quickly.
Nelson told The Gleaner that the station's proximity to the scene of the accident enabled a quick response, which averted any potential of looting.
"On arrival, the driver told us that the truck fell into a large hole caused by a broken 20-inch National Water Commission main. As a result, he lost control of the truck and it turned over on the left side. We were able to secure the goods that the truck was conveying from the factory. The driver sustained slight injuries and minor damage was done to the truck," he reported.
Fuming wife
Meanwhile, the accident has left Tillianer James, in her 40s, fuming.
"I have a husband sick inside there, him can't move and, suppose I have to take him to the doctor now? Such a big truck turn over at my gate, nothing can come into my yard," she said.
She told The Gleaner that, on several occasions, the National Water Commission effected repairs to the broken pipe, which has resulted in the erosion of the condition of the road.
"I live right here and look at the mess at my gate, there is a big hole Water Commission dig out and leave there, and every time this happen and damage my gate like this. And as they leave, by couple weeks, it dig up again and burst and mess up me gateway. I am fed up, real fed up," she lamented.