Crash victim’s mom happy for school bus system

Buff Bay, Portland:

Carol Reece, who has taken time off from Carnival Cruise to care for her son following a horrific accident last year that left him visually impaired and using a wheelchair, has embraced the rural school bus system slated for roll-out in September.

Reece, speaking with The Gleaner, recounted that on the day of the accident in May 2024, she received word that her son, David Johnson, was among a group of students travelling in a taxi heading towards Buff Bay in Portland.

Two students of Titchfield High School died and at least five other passengers, including Johnson, were rushed to hospital after the taxi slammed into a parked truck near Blueberry Hill. Nine people were in the taxi at the time of the incident.

DREAMS SHATTERED

“It was like I froze and was in shock. I managed to restrain myself and I was only hoping for the best,” Reece recalled.

“Coming out of that accident, my son is now 17 years old and all his dreams have been shattered. He is now wheelchair-bound and blind. I took time off from Carnival Cruise to be with and to care for him, but I don’t even know whether or not I will get back my job. It has really being a rough time for both of us, as I have to be doing everything for him now.

“At the time of the accident, David was 16 and was doing exceptionally well at Titchfield; but today all of his dreams and aspirations have literally died. He suffered clots to the head, which required surgery, but he lost his sight, and there is no movement or sensitivity in his legs. I heard about the rural bus system and I am very happy for it, as I believe that students will now be able to travel to and from school in ease and comfort.”

GOOD INITIATIVE

According to Reece, the accident that left her son unable to walk might not have happened if there were a school bus system in place at the time, as the students would have been safe in a bigger unit with adequate space, instead of being crammed in a taxi.

“It is a good initiative that will definitely help students,” she said. “My other son, who will be attending high school in September, will benefit from the school bus system. I cannot speak for everyone, but any initiative that will assist students getting to school in a timely and safe manner will get my support. I am still haunted by that fatal accident that claimed the lives of two students and shattered the dreams of my son.”

Earlier this year, another of the survivors of the accident, 14-year-old student Ronika Silveria, said she was still experiencing nightmares.

Silveria, also a student at Titchfield High, was speaking in May as she boarded the first of four buses procured by Daryl and Ann-Marie Vaz, members of parliament for West Portland and East Portland, respectively, were being commissioned for the transporting of students in Portland to school.

Daryl Vaz, the minister of science, energy, telecommunications and transport, has since announced that the Government is to establish a rural school bus programme.

editorial@gleanerjm.com