A devastating bus accident on the PJ Patterson Highway in St Catherine, Jamaica, has resulted in five fatalities and left 15 others hospitalized, according to reports up to press time on Wednesday. Among the deceased were three males and two females, with a two-year-old child among the injured. The crash occurred around 3:00 pm in the eastbound lane, just a few hundred meters before the Vineyard toll booth. Preliminary investigations suggest that a tyre blowout may have caused the minivan to collide with a guardrail, flip multiple times, and eject several passengers. Emergency services, including police, firefighters, and medical teams, responded swiftly to the scene. Dr. Lucien Jones, a road safety advocate and vice-chairman of the National Road Safety Council, expressed deep shock and urged drivers to exercise extreme caution. He emphasized the importance of adhering to road safety regulations, including the use of seat belts and avoiding speeding. The tragedy has brought the total number of road fatalities in Jamaica this year to 342, prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic laws and the implementation of the demerit point system to deter reckless driving.