Death of Chinese businessman highlights need for old Causeway Bridge restrictions

The tragic death of a Chinese businessman on Sunday morning has prompted urgent calls from senior police officers for the permanent closure of the old Causeway Bridge to recreational fishing, as law enforcement officials warn that the location continues to pose a deadly risk to the public.

The deceased has been identified as 62-year-old Jing Wang Wang of Hopefield Avenue, Kingston 10.

Police reported that about 10:05 a.m., Jing had been fishing with relatives along the bridge when it began to rain. He reportedly returned to his motor car and attempted to execute a U-turn, when the vehicle plunged over the edge of the bridge into the sea.

His motionless body was recovered hours later through the rescue efforts of the Marine Police, Coast Guard, the Jamaica Fire Brigade, and private divers. The crumpled motor vehicle was also removed.

At the scene, Sergeant Canute Nairne, from the Marine Police, said repeated warnings about the danger of fishing in the area have gone unheeded.

“We would have come here and told these same people this is a restricted area, no fishing – but they disobey, doing their recreational fishing,” the sergeant recalled, while pointing out that he was unsure whether Jing had been part of that previous group of Chinese nationals.

“They are fishing on the bridge; they’re not wearing any vests. And if he had a life vest, we don’t know if it would have made a difference, as he was in the car. But they don’t wear vests; they don’t do anything to protect themselves – more than throw the rocks, and sometimes fish pull them in the water.”

Nairne stressed that Jing is not the first to lose his life in the area and will not be the last, unless something is done.

Consequently, he appealed for the area to be permanently restricted to the public.

“It is a danger to persons who want to fish,” he said, while noting that although the area is on private property, no one should be fishing there.

“We have dragged many bodies that have floated [to this area] because of mishaps during fishing. So please, I am begging persons to be cautious,” he said.

The sergeant noted further that the police do not have the resources to patrol the area continuously.

RESTRICTED AREA

Assistant Commissioner of Police Christopher Phillips, who oversees Area 5, also expressed similar calls for the area to be restricted to the public.

“There are no railings to the side, and so it poses a serious risk. So it’s something that the authorities would [want to] look into. And that would [require] us to restrict that area until it is safe for persons to venture into that space,” he said.

In the meantime, Phillips said an investigation will be launched into the incident to determine what truly happened.

“It sounds very bizarre how things happened. So, we will [want to] be satisfied that we don’t have something else dealing with,” he said.

Meanwhile, family members and friends broke down in tears as they watched in horror and disbelief while his lifeless body was pulled from the sea.

A woman, who was pointed out as his sister, was inconsolable as she wailed and was tasked with removing blood from his injured face moments before the body was removed from the scene.

Others were observed fighting back tears, while some sank to the ground, overwhelmed with the weight of the tragedy.

Among those gathered were not just relatives, but staff from Jing’s Kingston-based business, who remembered him as “very nice”, “easy-going”, and “a quiet employer”.

The staff said they were shocked and deeply saddened by the incident.

“Mi couldn’t believe when mi get the call,” said one worker, who sometimes accompanied Wang on the fishing trips.

“Yesiday mi and him a talk, and today him gone. It shock mi, man.”

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com