On Thursday morning, a tragic incident unfolded when a bus travelling from Cambridge to Montego Bay met a harrowing fate, resulting in one fatality and six individuals hospitalized.
The accident occurred as the bus veered off the road on Long Hill in St. James and plunged into a 500-foot ravine. Among the casualties were four students and two adults. Superintendent Eron Samuels, acting head of the St. James Police, stated that the condition of these individuals remained uncertain. Furthermore, he suggested the possibility of additional survivors beyond the initial count of seven.
The rescue operation faced considerable adversity due to heavy rainfall, momentarily impeding the efforts of emergency responders, including firefighters and law enforcement. Nevertheless, these dedicated teams persisted, working relentlessly to ensure the safe extraction of all injured victims.
Adding a poignant layer to this tragedy, the deceased was identified as 50-year-old Dillion Hines, the father of dancehall artiste ‘Topmann.’ Hines was one of the seven occupants on the ill-fated bus that plunged into a ravine, causing injuries to others.
‘Topmann,’ renowned for his hit tracks like ‘Gyal Code‘ and ‘Cash Ready,’ was in the midst of preparations for a United States tour, having recently obtained the requisite travel documentation. This incident casts a sad shadow over his upcoming endeavours.