Curious onlookers view the burnt-out wreckage of two motor vehicles at Battersea, Manchester, following a fatal collision along the Winston Jones highway in the parish, yesterday. Five persons died as a result of the crash. - Norman Grindley /Deputy Chief Photographer

Glenroy Sinclair and Petrina Francis, Staff Reporters

Ten persons were killed in separate traffic accidents on the weekend, including Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) caretaker for North Western Manchester, Clinton Dietrich. This brings to at least 15, the number of persons killed in traffic collisions over the last eight days.

"Up to yesterday (Friday), we had 10 less fatalities, when compared with the number of persons killed within the corresponding period for last year," Senior Superintendent Ealan Powell, head of the Police Traffic Division, told The Sunday Gleaner.

More than 120 persons have now been killed in motor vehicle accidents since the start of the year.

In reacting to news of the accidents on the weekend, Paula Fletcher, executive director of the National Road Safety Council, said the agency was "advocating the use of electronic surveillance when dealing with road safety."

Victims identified

Five of the victims in one of the crashes that occurred in Manchester have been identified as Dietrich, who is also councillor for the John's Hall Division; Melesa Evans, a 22-year-old bartender; Radcliffe Lyons, a 43-year-old truck driver; 36-year-old Kerry Williams, and mechanic Paul Fuller.

The Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) reported that about 2:45 a.m. yesterday, Lyons was driving a Honda motor car with three passengers aboard, along Mike Town Road, when on reaching the intersection at Winston Jones Highway, they were involved in a collision with a Mitsubishi Pajero, driven by Dietrich. All five persons sustained injuries and died on the spot.

In addition to these fatalities, eight persons were injured, six in an accident in Braeton, Portmore, yesterday. These traffic collisions occurred as the world observed Road Safety Week.

On Friday, two persons were also killed and two others injured in a motor vehicle collision on Spanish Town Road, Kingston. Dead are Byron Jones and Venice Wynter, of Kingston addresses, while injured are Robert Williams and a woman believed to be in her late 20s.

According to the CCN, about 9:35 p.m., Jones, Wynter and the unidentified woman, were passen-gers in a Nissan Sunny motor car, driven by Williams, along Spanish Town Road.

While heading towards Three Miles, the vehicle collided with a Toyota Hilux truck travelling in the opposite direction.

All four persons in the motor car sustained injuries and were taken to the Kingston Public Hospital, where Jones and Wynter were pronounced dead and the others admitted in serious condition.

In addition, a mother and her son were involved in a traffic collision on Elletson Road, Kingston. Reports are that the mother died and the son is now nursing injuries.

Meanwhile, the body of a man whom the police believed was the victim of a hit-and-run accident, was found along Mandela High-way, St. Catherine, yesterday.

And the body of another man was found on a railroad in Alligator Pond, Manchester, yesterday.

It was identified as that of Vernon Simpson 40, otherwise called 'Busta' of Duffs House, Alligator Pond, in the parish. The police believed he was run over by a bauxite train.

Gleaner correspondent Angelo Lawrence also contributed to this story.

However, the CCN has since clarified that it was Mr. Dietrich who was driving on Mike Town Road and collided with Mr. Lyons while attempting to enter Winston Jones Highway. We regret any inconvenience that may have been caused.