Onlookers view the Honda CR-V that tumbled down a cliff after the roadway collapsed beneath it in the Rio Grande Valley on the same dangerous roadway in Portland that caused the death of 14 people in a truck crash last year. - Contributed by Josh Hunter

A returning resident is now counting his blessings after his Honda CR-V tumbled over a precipice at Friday road in the Rio Grande Valley of Portland yesterday, leaving him with just minor injuries.

Reuben Patterson, who is on holiday from Canada, had just spent the Monday night at Comfort Castle with relatives in what was a welcome-home visit. He was heading out of the Rio Grande Valley towards Port Antonio about 5:30 a.m. when the roadway collapsed underneath his vehicle.

According to residents who claim to have heard the fall of the vehicle and its impact, "the vehicle tumbled twice, but landed on all four tyres near a hedge," which prevented it from plunging to a further 200 or more feet on to several large boulders.

"Government is waiting for more people to die before any assistance is given to us," said Trevor Burke, a resident. "We are tired of the many promises. The prime minister knows about the terrible condition of our roads, along with the member of parliament. We have already lost 14 persons in an accident in December 2008 and, believe me, unless something is done to these roads, we could have more deaths."

The returning resident was pulled from the vehicle by residents who passed a rope to him from the top of the ravine and pulled him to safety. The man, who was reportedly in a state of shock, suffered minor cuts to his face and arms, and was recovering at a family member's house in the Port Antonio area.

Mixed reactions

Since the incident, there have been mixed reactions from other residents, who blasted the Government for failing to respond to their plights in the Rio Grande Valley, where 14 persons lost their lives in a horrific truck accident last year.

Delroy Jackson, representative of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management in the community, said there was a major concern regarding the state of the roadway, which is affecting the livelihood of residents in the various communities. He said they are beginning to take the promises of Government with a grain of salt, and they have now concluded that no one has their interest at heart.

"We are appealing to Government for help as several roadways in this valley are just like an accident waiting to happen," he said. "Children are scheduled to attend school on Monday, and the roadway at Friday road, which leads into Port Antonio, is impassable to vehicular traffic. Farming is our livelihood, and if we are unable to get our produce to market, our families will suffer."

Yesterday's accident occurred just days after The Gleaner rehighlighted the plight of the people of east Portland, particularly Mill Bank and Comfort Castle. The residents have been marooned in the community since February after heavy rainfall damaged the road, which is the sole route into the two communities.

Residents have, however, been using unconventional means, creating a makeshift driveway, using boulders and bamboo in order to accommodate vehicular traffic.

In an email to The Gleaner yesterday, member of parliament for Eastern Portland, Dr Donald Rhodd, called on the Government and, in particular, Transport Minister Mike Henry, to urgently reconstruct the collapsed section of the main road.