DEH truck involved in East End fatal crash

| 07/09/2019 | 93 Comments
East End crash, 7 September (Photo courtesy of Cayman Crosstalk and Stephanie Brooks)

(CNS) UPDATED SATURDAY 7:48pm: The truck involved in a fatal two-vehicle collision in East End around 3:00 Saturday morning was a Department of Environmental Health vehicle, the Health Ministry confirmed Saturday evening. Two people in a car that collided with the DEH truck on Sea View Road near High Rock Drive were killed as a result. Police reported earlier that the crash happened shortly after 3:00am on 7 September. The two occupants of the car where found unresponsive and confirmed deceased. The driver of the truck was not injured.

Offering no explanation as to why the truck was on the road at that time in the morning, the ministry said that the DEH is assisting the RCIPS with their inquiry “and will make no further comment while the investigation is ongoing”.

This is the second fatal crash within a week. A 27-year-old man dies last weekend following a single-vehicle crash in Bodden Town.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    It is illegal in most countries to collect garbage before 6am. It is governed by HEALTH, PEACE, SAFETY AND SANITATION ordinances.

    This particular truck was out and about on Saturday at 3 am.

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  2. Anonymous says:

    How many more tragedies do families on this island have to endure before something positive is done! Mile to mile this is the worse country I have known for traffic violations of every kind. There’s not a day goes by that there isn’t a serious accident. The majority is due to high speed and reckless driving, to which stupidity goes hand in hand. I know that Police have a limit to what they can enforce in different crimes and believe me, I know personally the difficulties they have. The abuse they endure is unbelievable. Being a Police Officer for me was highly rewarding but frustrating to. However, I would return to the Traffic Dept., tomorrow if I could. To read about all these daily violations is unbelievably frustrating. Police cannot be in every part of the island the same time. Despite what the public think there’s not an abundance of Officers on each shift. The paperwork involved to bringing to justice the perpetrator and then seeing them virtually go Scot free in court is so demeaning. I think this Government needs to step up big time and pass the law allowing Courts to come down big time on the Traffic Law….and other crimes committed. It’s currently laughable! It would never happen in the U.K. or the US. It should be much easier here on such a small island to enforce. Forget worrying about the Port, that’s the least of your worries here. If you want a petition start doing something positive about the Traffic Law and moan less about it. There are far too many vehicles to start with on such a small island without the roads to take them. How about putting a reliable bus service for workers and school children that will alleviate the high volume of traffic at peak periods. Some kids won’t even walk a 100yds to school…..pure laziness!
    My sympathy and condolences go out to the families of this, yet again, fatal accident. May you rest in peace.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Thank you for a little insight into the problem cops face. I do find it odd that only the traffic dept is able to cite drivers. Why can’t any cop who witnesses this do so?

      Totally agree once the port is properly dealt away with we rally for less bureaucracy when it comes to issuing citations. Demand more from our crime fighters not charge in the LA and the RCIPS.

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      • Anonymous says:

        One problem with drivers is they are giving driver licenses without even knowing the rules of the road and cannot drive good, but they get the license for favours, that happens big time on the Brac, everyone knows it, and maybe the same in Grand.

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    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      Agree with everything you said.

      In the future, consider separating your prose into paragraphs; there are probably dozens of impatient people who scrolled past your comment because it was “TLDR”. Help them out. Give them an ‘eye-break’ with paragraphs.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Condolence to the families, I can’t believe people are on here questioning why the garbage truck is on the road that time of morning, sometimes they are earlier ! the light poles and walls and trees are always on the roadside as well people just have to drive with common sense, it’s a personal responsibility I think anyone looking at this car will agree it wasn’t an impact at low speed

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    • Ron Ebanks says:

      Why I asked the question is because where I live has a population 10 times bigger than Cayman and my garbage is pick up once a week and picked up about 8am . So you see why I asked the question , who wants to be waken at 3am by the garbage truck ?

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      • Anonymous says:

        People who don’t want to sit in anymore traffic that’s already unnecessary.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Can you IMAGINE if garbage trucks here picked up garbage at 8 am, right in the middle of the morning rush hour? People would be furious! I am very glad they pick up garbage in the middle of the night when there is very little traffic. They need to make numerous stops and would cause havoc if they actually started at 8 am.

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        • Anonymous says:

          NO! It is a law in civilized countries that garbage pick ups don’t start until 6am. People’s sleep is protected by these laws. human body needs 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep to recover, restore, rejuvenate.

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          • Anonymous says:

            This is not true.

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          • Anonymous says:

            11:27 I lived in and worked in Israel – our garbage collections were made before the sun came up and you got used to it.

            We had huge dumpsters in the street and you put all the trash in them then they were emptied once a week. It was a really efficient operation. That’s what you need here.

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          • Anonymous says:

            They pick it earlier than 6 in Philadelphia. Mine was picked at 5 am

      • Anonymous says:

        I live in Northward and we are frequently woken up by the trash collections at 3 am. They have no consideration at all for residents trying to sleep. They seem to rev the engine and make as much noise as possible and many of us suffer the next day at work due to poor sleep. I don’t know why collections are so unnecessarily noisy and in the middle of the night. I can only assume that the overtime pay is good.

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  4. Elvis says:

    Why don’t police post the figures and nationalities of driving offenses.
    This way we will see exactly where the culprits are from

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    • Anonymous says:

      They should be reporting all offences, by everyone, to immigration, but do not.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Made me laugh a few years ago when rcips launched some road safety scheme. On Cayman 27 some Police Inspector explained that the problem is Brits don’t know how to use a 4 way stop and Americans don’t know how to use a roundabout! That was it. Like seriously it’s Brits and Americans who are the problem!!!

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      • Anonymous says:

        I’m American and we may not have roundabouts, but we have many rotaries. Same thing, different name. Drive around them every day.

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        • John Smith says:

          I’m American – never heard of “Rotaries.” Been driving in Cayman for 36 years, also in Ireland, England, etc. so used to “Roundabouts.” Obviously you are not American!

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          • Anonymous says:

            Lions, Kiwanis ?

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          • Anonymous says:

            I’m American too and we’ve only ever called them roundabouts.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Rotary is a very old term but was most definitely used in the US. Maybe older than you John Smith.
            There may not be as many roundabouts but they do indeed exist in the US.
            And I have spoken to someone from the UK and he had no idea how a 4-way stop was meant to be used. I pass through the 4-way at Hospital Rd and none of youse know how to use one… Sorry but it’s true! THe number of people that sit there not knowing whose turn it is… Lawdy! It doesn’t take an invite!

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            • Chris Johnson says:

              There are no four ways stops in the UK so please explain how a UK citizen would know how to use them. Duh?

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          • Anonymous says:

            You must not live in New England ( North east) –
            U.S. – have plenty of them!

      • Anonymous says:

        It doesn’t matter what you call them but anyone with an iq over 80 can figure out how to use one in about 5 seconds. It take a special kind of idiot to use the left lane to turn right but you see it every damn day!

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    • Say it like it is says:

      9.44am If this information was published regarding hit and run cases often involving fatalities where do you think nearly all the drivers come from?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Caymanian and jamaican.

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      • Anonymous says:

        And Honduran.

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        • Anonymous says:

          I’m sorry what? hahahaha you must be joking! i am caymanian born and raised and as you would know my family is also from Honduras, my family has no tickets, no accidents and no violations, so Don’t Generalize. That is a huge issue with us caymanians hating on our own ancestors.

    • Anonymous says:

      i asked the court for this information once and they told me they dont keep records based on Nationality (something to do with Human Rights), seems like a stupic policy but thats Cayman I guess.

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      • Anonymous says:

        It is a stupid policy and prevents the traffic authorities from assessing the driving standards being imported from various countries – and therefore prevents us from requiring re-qualification.

        It also prevents the immigration authorities from the undertaking of their responsibilities.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    free money making solution: treble all speeding fines, two fines in one year and you lose your liscense.

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    • Anonymous says:

      But the speeding ticket won’t reach you in the post here…

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      • Anonymous says:

        You get it when the cop cites you. At the scene of the crime…

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        • Anonymous says:

          That will require much more diligence on the part of the Police / Powers that be, to first have more of a presence on the roads, consistently, and secondly to stop and ticket offenders.

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    • Ron Ebanks says:

      I give the families of the victims my condolences .
      My first question about this tragic accident , what is the reason why a Government vehicle doing on the road at 3:00am ?
      In big Cities I have never seen a garbage truck on the road at 3:00am.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Shifts start around that time in the morning is why the truck was on the road.

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      • Anonymous says:

        But yet, you would be one of the first to complain that the trucks are a nuissance during the day when you can’t get to work on time. Furthermore this is not a big city, its an island, so you cannot make that comparison. We need to think before we write. Its basic common sense to have those trucks on the road at a time when there is minimal traffic. What should be in our mind, is that a citizen driving on the road at that time in the morning is usually coming from a party, bar, etc. So let us just wait on the outcome of the investigation.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You don’t know what a big city is apparently. Their municipalities operate at 2 and 3 in the morning, picking up the garbage deposited that night. It’s how our trash gets picked up with out most people even knowing it. When the last time you saw the garbage truck in your neighborhood.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The Govt vehicle was out on the road picking up your damn garbage that you all complain about when it’s not picked up!!!! My condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, may God give you the strength to go through this terrible time.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Speed isn’t the issue. Stupidity is. The idiots driving round the outside of roundabouts aren’t speeding.

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      • Anonymous says:

        people don’t die on roundabouts. speed kills, end of discussion.

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        • Anonymous says:

          actually its the impact that kills, normally due to the high g’s of deceleration.

          See lots of speeders everyday, they can’t all be zombies

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        • Anonymous says:

          It’s not the end of discussion though is it? You need speed to move. There’s an appropriate speed for the conditions and an inapproriate speed. 60 in a 40 on a clear day isn’t going to kill anyone. 40 in a 25 in the rain, at night, in a sh1tty old Honda on bald remolds stands a good chance of ending up in a wall.

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  6. Shepherd says:

    We need laws here similar to other countries. The Traffic Law is the weakest piece of legislation in existence. Manslaughter for negligent fatalities. Car and motorbikes are seized and destroyed if it is unlicensed and uninsured. Points put on driving licenses for tickets and accidents, resulting in losing your license if you receive too many. Maybe then people will be more responsible.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The Traffic Law is a big piece of legislation creating dozens if not a hundred different offences. Law-abiding people have enough restrictions on their liberty.

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    • Anonymous says:

      We need consistent enforcement even more so!

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  7. Road Rage says:

    Why do so many drivers insist on overtaking in the turn lane in the front of Savannah Primary School only to pull in front of other the drivers who chose to obey the speed limit sign?
    Every morning I endure this and yesterday I refused to let an indict pull in front of me. I just had enough.
    I don’t care who is insulted by this comment and I am tired of the Jamaican style driving that has been adopted here on this Island.

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    • Anonymous says:

      That comment go a lot of likes but technically speaking, that is not a turning lane, it’s a double lane. If NRA decides to turn that area into a turning lane then fine but it’s currently not and drivers are allowed to use it to go ahead of slower moving cars.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Wrong. It is a merging lane.
        Since nobody drives slow here, overtaking slow cars is not an argument.
        You overtake 4 cars and create a bottleneck at the end.
        It costs you more time.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Nobody drives slow here? Ever tried getting through Shedden Road in an efficient manner or got road rage from being stuck behind a tiny car of questionable inspection status with 5 people in it?

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        • Anonymous says:

          I beg to disagree. I constantly encounter people driving 10-15 miles sometimes more BELOW the speed limit.

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      • Anonymous says:

        In the morning and afternoon It’s a School Zone.. PERIOD !

        And by the way hopefully the RCIP —PRO is reading this—please make your presence know between Buddy Way and Caskwell Drive .this area is commonly used as a quarter mile race track

        Thanks

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        • Anonymous says:

          Question: Where are the Police? It is such a rare occurrence to find them in school zones – why is this?

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      • Anonymous says:

        technically speaking, – Everyone that uses those lanes to overtake is speeding, they do not use their indicators and are just simply rude and do not respect the well being of our children and any school postings or the amber light. When an accident happens they always blame the other driver, they never take responsibility for their stupidity.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Import Jamaicans andyou get Jamaicanisation.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    This is a major tragedy and my thoughts are with the families of the deceased.

    I hope that we can all learn from this tragedy and I hope that we start to be more careful, alert and respectful road users.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    In recognition and tribute to all of those who share or have died needlessly on our roadways, I challenge the LA to put foreword a road safety Bill which amends the Traffic Law, calling for a more vigorous licensing process for anyone driving an omnibus, taxi, school bus, all trucks over 8500lbs, or other construction equipment, many of which have no regard or business on public roads. Some of which are driven by unlicensed menial workers. Tickets should be tripled for this category. There should be no racing, Jake-braking, and roundabout dumping. Ever. The NRA must provide proper cycle lane infrastructure – including dedicated safe North-South and East-West cycling lanes secured with bollards, intersection rumble strips, zebra humps, or bus channeling. We need to demand these changes of our do-nothing coasting representatives!

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    • Anonymous says:

      If the police sat hidden on the road through Bodden Town, every day they would be able to prosecute many many dump trucks and cars speeding horrendously, especially on that straight bit between Mostyns and the former Edge restaurant. I even saw a dump truck overtake another dump truck a few days ago, doing at least 50. But what’s the use? We don’t enforce laws here, do we Mr Chief of Police?.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Since moving here the only “street” racing I have seen has been dump trucks and transport trucks. These guys drive FAST and recklessly and no one stops them. It should be you lose your license instantly if speeding in one of these. I also strongly believe most of them shouldn’t even be on the road due to maintenance and safety issues.

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      • Anonymous says:

        There are also dozens of 40-passenger buses heeling over in roundabouts with TERRIFIED passengers aboard…the group 3 license should be very strictly metered and fines tripled for all drivers in this category.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    Yow it sad star when me hear mi a call har phone on it nuh ring at all girl way u deh cum bk to ur kids dem way 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭lisa Lisa

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  11. L.D. says:

    What was it doing, why was the Gov. truck on the road at 3 in the AM

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    • Answer says:

      Collecting our Garbage so we don’t complain anymore.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Imagine if they collected during the morning day light hours. Between the school buses and other traffic, we would never get to town .

        But sad to hear of this horrible accident

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    • Anonymous says:

      They collected my trash on Friday morning 2:30am!!! Its really odd that they collect in the night. I rarely see them in the day. Maybe it’s because of the heat? Night driving just adds more risks especially on this rock.

      Condolences to the families that have lost loved ones in this most likely preventable accident.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The likely collect the garbage in the early hours of the morning as they make multiple stops so they don’t have to worry as much about traffic. It allows them to collect the garbage more quickly and cover more areas during a shift. Furthermore it would be much cooler for the workers and the equipment at that time of day.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I live in town and the truck regularly comes at that sort of time. I know because it wakes me up. I’m not complaining; it’s understandable given the daytime traffic congestion and the heat.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Baby girl u really leave Jamaica leave u kids n this happen. Oh God my heart is in pain..

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  13. Eastern says:

    That road is a tempting road to speed on. My condolences to the grieving family 🙁

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    • Anonymous says:

      No it isn’t!!!! Why people can’t drive like their life is on the line is beyond me! Why there never seems to be police pulling people over for any infraction is beyond me. Why people overtake when they are going around a bend is beyond me. Why people park in the middle of the road or don’t pull off completely from the road to let people out or pick someone up is beyond me.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You ever driven in Jamaica? If not, it’s ridiculous, people undertaking on grass verges, overtaking on blind hills. I thought we lived in the Caribbean where the pace of life was meant to be calmer and slower, where are you going in such a hurry its worth killing yourself and others for? Slow the hell down idiots.

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    • Uncle John says:

      Can it be that the driver drop asleep, which that’s what I think happens

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