Crashes concern Vaz

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz is again urging all road users to exercise greater caution and responsibility when traversing the nation's roadways.

The renewed call follows a fiery motor vehicle crash along the Coopers Pen main road in the vicinity of the Royalton Hideaway Resort in Trelawny on Sunday. The crash claimed two lives, highlighting the grave dangers that persist on the country's roadways. Since the start of 2026, three persons have lost their lives from two collisions.

"To record three road fatalities within the first days of the year is deeply troubling," the minister said. "This is not the way we should be starting 2026. The devastating crash in Trelawny is a sobering reminder of how quickly lives can be lost when road rules are ignored or caution is abandoned."

"The road safety call is not just about one driver or one vehicle. It's a wake-up call to every operator, every motorist, and every pedestrian who uses our roads daily. We must do better, all of us," added Vaz.

The severity of the crash underscores the urgent need for heightened vigilance and responsible behaviour on the nation's roads at the start of a new year. As of December 31, 2025, a total of 374 persons were killed in 325 fatal collisions across the island. This represented a year-to date two per cent increase in fatalities compared to 2024, representing an additional nine deaths. Fatal crashes increased by three per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2024. Motorcyclists account for 111 or 30 per cent of fatalities in 2025.