Jamaica
Child in Coma After Falling Boulders Strike Three Students in St. Elizabeth
Three children were struck by falling boulders while walking to school in the Breadnut Walk area of Merrywood, North West St. Elizabeth on Friday morning, leaving one child reportedly in a coma and another with a fractured skull.
By Dwight Simpson
ST. ELIZABETH, Jamaica ā A community in St. Elizabeth is calling for urgent action after three children were struck by falling boulders while travelling to school, leaving one child reportedly in a coma and another seriously injured.
The incident happened Friday morning in the Breadnut Walk area of Merrywood, North West St. Elizabeth, as two girls and a boy were making their way to Merrywood Primary School. Large rocks reportedly fell from the side of a mountain and struck the children.
According to reports, community members rushed to help and had to carry the injured children approximately a mile before reaching a location where transportation could take them to Black River Hospital.
Two of the children remained hospitalized in serious condition following the incident. One was transferred to a hospital in Kingston while another was transferred to Mandeville Regional Hospital. The third child was treated and released.
Television Jamaica reported that one of the three children was in a coma at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).
Reports indicate that one of the injured students suffered a fractured skull along with significant head injuries.
Road Conditions Raise Concerns
The accident is also bringing renewed attention to concerns about road conditions in the community.
Residents say the route where the children were walking is regularly used because a nearby roadway is not accessible to vehicles. Community members have complained for years that the conditions create serious risks, particularly for children travelling to and from school.
Councillor Clinton Samuels described the incident as traumatic for residents and expressed concern for the injured children and their families.
The incident has now raised questions about whether more could have been done to provide a safe route for students in the area.
Residents are urging authorities to address the condition of the roadway and surrounding infrastructure before another tragedy occurs.
The priority remains the recovery of the injured children as their families and community await further updates.
CanJam News will update this story as additional verified information becomes available.
Source & attribution
Reporting by CanJam News. Information in this article is based on publicly available statements and verified reporting available at publication.
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