Crash victims’ relative demands answers

April 10, 2025
Manhertz
Manhertz

A grieving relative is demanding accountability and transparency following the crash that killed four people, including a mother and son, along the PJ Patterson Highway on March 30.

"The biggest issue that I have is that they're not releasing the name of the person who killed four people who were alive before this person ran into them," said the relative. "They (authorities) have not reached out to us and say anything." According to police reports, the incident occurred after the driver of a Toyota Probox lost control and the vehicle overturned. While the occupants of the Probox were disembarking, a Mercedes-Benz crashed into them. The injured were taken to the Spanish Town Hospital where four were confirmed dead. They were identified as Tyesha Manhertz, 22, Wendy Lammie, 29, Andre Mcleish, 27, and eight-year-old Trey Stewart. The relative painfully recounted to THE STAR the moment when they received the devastating news.

"I was calling, calling and no response. Then someone called me and said, 'I don't know how to pass on the news to you, but one of your [relatives] has died.' Mi panic and start ask, 'Where are the kids?' He told me he had the baby, then told me that my [other relative's] foot is broken. Then I heard the worst thing I could ever imagine to hear, say dem rush with Trey to the hospital and they're trying to see if he can make it... but he didn't make it."

Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr Gary McKenzie, head of the police's Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch, said investigators are still gathering evidence as it relates to the issues around the crash.

"There were a number of persons who were injured and were hospitalised, and so we have to work around getting back to being in a position to assist us with our investigations," he said.

RELATIVES NOT SATISFIED

"Whenever we investigate any incident that comes to the attention of the police, we investigate to unearth the truth. And once it leads to someone being culpable, then we will make the necessary charges, it doesn't matter who," he added. But the relative isn't satisfied.

"If you listen to the news, they keep saying 'the Benz driver'... Why is the name being withheld?" he asked. "If it was a poor man involved in that accident, they would have arrested him already or put out the name that investigation is happening and so on."

The relative said that another family member who survived the crash is now recovering at home with serious injuries "that will affect her for a lifetime".

"This person (the driver) take away a mom, leaving two kids, and the father of another family of two kids. These families should get compensated," he said. "At least show transparency so there can be accountability. Them can't bring them back but we need justice." McKenzie offered assurance to everyone concerned with the crash "that the police are doing all they can to investigate the matter properly and comprehensively".

Other ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É Stories