Newly surfaced CCTV footage has shed light on the heartbreaking incident that claimed the life of a St Catherine mother and left her teenage daughter seriously injured along Young Street in Spanish Town earlier this month.
The video, which runs for just over two minutes, captures the pair walking along the side of the road moments before the crash. The teenage girl can be seen slightly ahead, while her mother follows a few steps behind. At one point, they both move a little further away from the road and pause as traffic continues to pass.
Seconds later, a white Nissan AD Wagon taxi suddenly enters the frame at high speed. The vehicle appears to be overtaking another car when it veers dangerously close to the roadside. Within moments, it slams into the two pedestrians and continues out of view without stopping.
In the aftermath of the collision, the mother is no longer visible in the footage, while the daughter is seen moving on the ground. The crash quickly draws the attention of nearby residents, who rush toward the scene.
The mother, identified as 54-year-old Janet Wilson, was no longer seen because she was thrown more than 12 metres from the impact. She struck a fence and an ackee tree and fell into a nearby yard. Wilson, a Job Lane resident, succumbed to her injuries at the hospital, while her 16-year-old daughter continues to receive treatment for serious injuries.
The taxi operator, 46-year-old Sheldon Johnson, and four passengers from his vehicle were also transported to the hospital. The passengers were treated and released, while Johnson was treated and later turned over to police custody.
He faces a charge of causing death by dangerous driving following investigations into the crash, which occurred shortly after 3:00 p.m. on March 14.
Last Friday, Johnson’s case was brought before the St Catherine Parish Court. During the proceedings, his attorney, Priscilla Jennings, told the judge that Johnson suffered a medical episode, which caused the crash. Johnson was granted bail for $500,000.
According to Jennings, Johnson’s leg went rigid while driving, and he could not remove his foot from the pedal. She said her client had seen a physician about the same issue with his foot about a month ago, and he was cleared to drive.
The conditions of his bail include that he not drive any vehicle and that he report to the Frankfield police. He is scheduled to return to court on June 23.
