Two employees of the National Water Commission (NWC) have died following a devastating head-on collision in Manchester on Thursday afternoon. The victims have been identified by police as Lemar Lewis and Livingston McEwan, both of whom were employed by the water utility company.
Initial reports from investigators indicate that the crash occurred at about 1:30 p.m. along the busy roadway of Pen Hill main road. Authorities say Lewis and McEwan were travelling downhill in a Suzuki Swift motor car when a Toyota Wish approaching from the opposite direction allegedly drifted out of its lane.
Police say the Toyota Wish, which was heading uphill, reportedly failed to remain on the left side of the road. As it began crossing over to the right lane, the two vehicles collided into each other. The violent head-on collision with the Suzuki Swift left both vehicles severely damaged.
The front sections were heavily crushed. Motorists who were in the area at the time rushed to assist those trapped in the wreckage while emergency services were contacted. Members of the Jamaica Fire Brigade later arrived on the scene and, along with bystanders, worked to remove the injured occupants from the mangled vehicles.
Aside from Lewis and McEwan, only one other individual was injured in the crash, the driver of the Toyota Wish. At the time of the incident, Lewis, McEwan, and the Toyota driver were transported to the hospital for urgent medical treatment. Doctors later pronounced Lewis and McEwan dead. Lewis was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, and McEwan succumbed to his injuries not long after.
While the driver of the Toyota Wish is now the sole survivor of the collision, his injuries are severe. He was admitted to the hospital in critical condition, according to police.
News of the deaths has left co-workers at the National Water Commission in mourning. Authorities have since launched an investigation into the crash as they seek to determine all the circumstances that led to the fatal collision.
