Two people died in Manchester after a tractor carrying cement veered off the roadway along Spur Tree Hill and plunged into a precipice. The Tuesday morning crash claimed the lives of the driver, 25-year-old Jordan Sterling, and a female passenger in the vehicle.
Reports say that, around 5 a.m., the driver lost control of the tractor. The unit drove off the road and flipped several times, falling nearly 80 meters down. During that moment, the two occupants were thrown from the vehicle. When the matter was brought to the attention of the Mandeville Fire Station, firefighters were on the scene shortly after.
Firefighter Trevor Robinson recounted that after the scene was searched, they found “One person was fine, that seems to be alive and another person that was found that has no movement or has no sign of life,” according to TVJ News.
The victims were transported to the hospital, but it was too late for the female passenger. She was confirmed dead when they arrived, but the driver showed signs of life. He was admitted to the hospital, but despite efforts to save him, he also succumbed to his injuries later Tuesday.
At the scene, the tractor was found in a horribly wrecked state, and a utility pole was broken. Reports confirmed that the crash caused the damaged pole, which left several wires down along the roadway. As a result, motorists were forced to navigate the area with a single lane of access.
According to the report, Spur Tree Hill is infamous for crashes. Authorities continue to appeal to drivers, especially those operating trucks, to adhere to the road code and drive within the speed limit.
In an interview with TVJ News, truck driver Adave Dockrey from St Elizabeth was also cautioning motorists at the scene, saying, “This hill has no mercy, and it will take your life.”
“You just have to exercise caution and just obey the road code. That’s all you have to do. Obey the speed limit, use your lower gear and come down,” he continued.
