Angelo Laurence and George Henry, Gleaner Writers

Curious onlookers converge on the scene of the accident along the Spaldings to Mandeville main road which left seven students hospitalised yesterday. A Toyota Corolla motor car and an International truck were involved in the collision. - photo by George Henry

Seven students of the Spaldings High School were rushed to hospital yesterday after the route taxi in which they were travelling got out of control and slammed into an International truck along the Spaldings to Mandeville main road. Two of the seven were said to be in critical condition last night.

Six of the seven have been identified as Dreon Fairclough and Rhajhai Smith who were admitted to the Mandeville Regional Hospital in critical condition and Shane Allen, Kemar Shakespeare, Robert Mills and Tegon Bailey who were admitted to the Percy Junor Hospital.

Driver on the run

The driver of the taxi who was identified as 24-year-old Garth Jones of Walderston, Manchester, fled the scene and was up to press time the subject of a police manhunt. The accident took place about 3:15 p.m. and, according to eyewitnesses, the driver was racing along with three other route taxis at the time of the collision.

The four taxis were all heading to Christiana. Three of the taxis managed to overtake the truck but Jones was unable to - according to eyewitnesses - as he attempted to overtake the truck a vehicle approached from the opposite direction. In an effort to avoid hitting that vehicle, Jones swerved and his car ended up under the truck, coming to rest against a utility pole. It was at this point Jones fled the scene, leaving the children to fend for themselves. A woman who operates a shop nearby went to their rescue.

Corporal Albert Simpson of the Spaldings police told The Gleaner that it was just Friday last that he warned Jones about his bad driving habits but he did not take heed. In fact, the police say they have had to talk to him on several occasions about his poor driving habits.