An 11-year-old schoolboy was struck and killed in a hit-and-run incident along Ferry Service Road in St Andrew on Monday afternoon. The victim was identified as Duran McKenzie, who was heading home.
Reports indicate that Duran had just come off a bus when a 2019 Ford Transit van hit him shortly after 3:00 p.m. The driver, instead of stopping, fled the scene. It is unclear whether the child was walking alone when the incident happened.
Police say they were able to track the vehicle through its license plate. The driver, identified only as a Portmore resident, was subsequently arrested for the chilling hit-and-run.
The Jamaica Star reported that there has been an increase in pedestrian fatalities.
Fatalities related to road accidents now stand at 171 for 2025, and among the casualties are 38 pedestrians. Vice Chairman of the National Road Safety Council, Dr Lucien Jones, expressed that the schoolboy’s untimely demise underscores how critical it is to protect the most vulnerable ones navigating the roads.
He urged pedestrians to avoid risky shortcuts. Instead of using undesignated areas, he urged them to utilise the overhead bridge to cross the Mandela Highway and warned that taking an undesignated route, even a few yards away, could turn out disastrous.
Dr Jones also highlighted the danger of speeding. According to Dr Jones, most drivers exceed the 80 km/h speed limit on Mandela Highway. He added that pedestrians have a low chance of surviving an incident that involves a car going over 30 km/h.
He called on drivers to slow down in residential areas and near schools and pushed for better infrastructure, such as sidewalks, clear markings, and adult supervision for school children.
Additionally, he highlighted that preventing tragic accidents is not only about the people behind the wheel but also about the pedestrians. They must also avoid distractions, especially phones, and never attempt to cross under the influence.