A St Thomas man died after he fell through a bridge on Good Friday. The fatal fall occurred when the unidentified man attempted to cross the bridge in the community of Easington despite it being badly damaged.
According to preliminary information, the victim reportedly plunged through a large opening in the structure around 10 a.m. The gaping hole is said to have been caused by heavy rainfall and flooding associated with the passage of Hurricane Melissa last October.
It is understood that at the time of the incident, no one was around. A resident who spoke after the incident said the fall was not immediately witnessed. He explained that the alarm was raised sometime later when another individual passing through the area noticed what appeared to be a body in the river below and alerted others. Residents then gathered and contacted emergency services, who responded and removed the man from the water.
The man was transported to the Princess Margret Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Residents say the tragedy did not come as a surprise, pointing out that the bridge has remained in a dangerous state for months. While a bypass was reportedly established to facilitate movement, some pedestrians and cyclists have continued using the damaged crossing at various times, including during the day and late at night.
One resident, who spoke shortly after the incident, said this marks the second fatality linked to the bridge since it was damaged. He described the situation as urgent and called on authorities to prioritise repairs. According to him, the community has repeatedly raised concerns but feels their appeals have not been addressed with the level of urgency required to prevent further loss of life.
Another resident expressed frustration over what he described as inadequate restrictions at the site, arguing that stronger measures should have been put in place to prevent access altogether. He suggested that only authorised personnel should be allowed near the bridge until it is fully repaired, noting that the current situation leaves too much room for risk.
A third community member, who said he knew the deceased, indicated that the man had an issue with his vision, which could have contributed to the incident. He maintained, however, that better security around the bridge could have prevented the tragedy, regardless of individual circumstances.
In response, Minister with responsibility for Works, Robert Nesta Morgan, extended condolences to the family and the wider community. He emphasised that the bridge had been officially closed by the National Works Agency due to safety concerns and that residents had been informed of the risks. He also urged Jamaicans to respect warning signs and avoid using infrastructure that has been deemed unsafe.
The bridge is among several listed for rehabilitation under the government’s Accelerated Bridge Programme, which is expected to address dozens of damaged structures across the island. Investigations into the latest incident are ongoing.
