IN JAMAICA : They were more concerned about looting the goods than about me..... Truck driver laments behaviour of residents after Mount Rosser crash...The vehicle was loaded with energy drinks, salt fish, and cereal estimated to value millions of dollars.

Thursday, April 10, 2014   

THE look of bewilderment on the face of the truck driver said it all. He had just escaped a scary accident without losing a limb.

The white Isuzu truck the man was driving developed mechanical problems and careened over a ledge before landing on the Church of Jesus Christ at Mount Rosser in St Catherine, yesterday.

Residents stand among two cops
 protecting a small quantity of goods
recovered at the crash site.

"As I approached the corner the timing belt broke and the truck stalled. When I tried to pull up the hand brake that failed too, and the truck rolled back so fast I couldn't believe it," said the still shaken driver, while asking that his name be withheld.

The vehicle was loaded with energy drinks, salt fish, and cereal estimated to value millions of dollars.

The crash was bad enough, but what followed was even more heart-rending.

In a matter of minutes a horde of looters converged on the scene and, with scant disregard for the safety of the driver, began emptying the storage area of the truck.

"They were more concerned about looting the goods than about helping me. Only a few wondered aloud if the driver was not injured. I am glad neither me or anyone else was injured," the driver told the Jamaica Observer.

It did not take long before the truck was emptied. The looters were still not satisfied.

They then turned their attention to scrapping the truck and removed the front and back right wheels before emptying the gas tank.

Wisely, the driver did not try to stop them as he could have been harmed by the marauding herd of callous looters.

One man acted threateningly when the Observer arrived on the scene.

"Don't come down here. Stay right there. No picture right here," the man barked.

The shattered wall and destroyed
furniture inside the Church of Jesus Christ.
 (PHOTOS: KARL MCLARTY)

When the police arrived on the scene they managed to retrieve a small quantity of the goods. They cops also managed to retrieve a quantity of the fuel that was stolen. However, it was not clear whether anyone was arrested in connection with the theft.

The truck, meanwhile, damaged a section of the church roof and a side wall.

The incident caused a major traffic pile-up which only eased after a wrecker hauled the disabled truck from the

accident scene.