Persons Injured, Buses Damaged in Stone-throwing Incidents
The Jamaican Urban Transit Company, (JUTC) has reported that stone throwing incidents have left five buses damaged and two persons injured in Three Miles, St. Andrew recently. The Company notes that a driver and a female passenger were wounded from windshield fragments to their eyes. Their condition is not considered life-threatening.
Sections of Three Miles, Bull Bay, Marcus Garvey Drive, Windward Road near Paradise Street, and Vauxhall High School, (notice Portmore), and Spanish Town Road are hotspots for stone-throwing occurrences.
The JUTC says it has been targeted by vandals more frequently in recent weeks. The JUTC has reported 29 events in Three Miles alone. Last month, 19 of those occurrences occurred. There have been 69 stone-throwing incidents less than two months before the end of the year. These collisions primarily damaged the windshield and side glass. For the entire year of 2020, the Company logged 63 stone-throwing events.
The company noted several steps to reduce the accidents, but they were mostly ineffective. Managing Director Paul Abrahams said the damage to the five buses at the same place required extra security involvement during an emergency meeting this morning to review the newest developments.
“We have to take some bold decisions as the vandalism of our buses in quick succession is affecting our operations and our ability to serve the commuting public. These attacks seem to be deliberate and coordinated and as such we must further engage the Police High Command with a view to immediately arresting this serious problem,” Mr. Abrahams noted.
The JUTC Managing Director further stated that due to the severity of the situation, even more, drastic measures, such as the utilization of private security contractors and technology, must be taken.
It was advised that service be temporarily suspended in the area, but this was put on hold pending an assessment of how many people would be affected.
In the short to medium term, the Managing Director has directed that Crime Stop be re-engaged to assist us in resolving this issue.
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