In what is being described as one of the worst traffic accidents in 2015, the fire and ambulance services are vigorously trying to attend to several injured persons following a collision between a jeep and a passenger bus which occurred under the Canefield Cliff.
DNO understands that the vehicles involved are a Wesley passenger bus registration number HE576 and a Jeep Registration number PJ477. Reports indicate that damage to a third vehicle involved in the accident was not extensive.
According to an eye witness, moments ago, fire and ambulance personnel were attempting to remove the passengers of both vehicles who were trapped inside.
Several persons, including some children were injured, according to the eye witness.
Last night there were two accidents in the same area.
A DNO news reporter is currently on the scene and we will provide more details in a later publication.
Only in Dominica Fire Officers respond to emergencies like that. What a shame. No personal protective equipment(ppe). No helmets, appropriate gloves, visor whilst cutting,coat. some have trousers. They are ordinarily dressed.No command and control on the scene. Clearly a mass casualty setting. One day all you will learn the work.
What happen to the access road from Ravine Cocque through Morne Daniel ending up on the other side of the Canefield Cliffs? Then what about improving the road that passes behind Lyndhurst? Options people – we need options, not this one way in, one way out road network we currently have!!!
So many things to bet on in dominica. Sorry about the accident but i just won $500 dollars. Next accident prediction. $betting starts at midnight on May 1, 2015. You know how to bet.
On every Road there should be speed bumbs, that is the solution which cost least and will save a lot of accidents. PLEASE Dominican in charge just do it.
Total and utter nonsense! What is the point of building nice smooth roads and then to plaster them with speed bumps? So, because of a few irresponsible drivers you want to spoil it for everyone? I just wish some people would put their brain in gear before they comment on this forum.
Speed-bumps in Dominica are also dangerous as appropriate warning or notification signs are not installed. Motorists and motorcycle drivers could get into serious trouble and losing control of their vehicles if hitting an unmarked speed-bump all of a sudden. Generally signing is very poor in D/ca and should be improved.
Stop the idiots on the road. IT IS ABOUT TIME. Instead 3 polismen walking around Roseau out in the trafic and check the speed and licen and cars. Even the POLIS is driving VERY FAST anyway up in the country. People from abroad are friightened to travel on the road and there is some busdrivers too is ignorent.
Like a BIG truck is passing in the corner, just put him slef on the horn and DRIVE like mad, without any consideration at all about anybody ealse. Children, tourist or anyone. Not even a dog can get out.
its time to install speed cameras accompanied by loss of license and hefty fines to tame the motorists.
I think also that seatbelts should be worn in every passenger bus, in front and at the back of the busses. Every seat should have a seatbelt so people can wear. if not available the bus should not be allowed on the road. This is peoples safety, lives, we should take this very seriously. WEARING OF SEATBELTS SHOULD BE A MUST!! Please MR. Chief of Police, give the officers some more attentive work, have them enforce these laws!
NYC buses have seatbelts for everyone? What about the subway? The dollar vans? No! So please…
What about Canada? The public buses, do they have seatbelts? Think before you make these statements. I agree there is a need for wider awareness about seatbelt use but to say buses without seatbelts should not be on the road is taking it slightly too far…
The traffic law in NYC and Canada are more enforced than of Dominica. They have more road signs they can afford not to have as many seatbelts and they DO ear seatbelts. How many Dominicans u see wearing their seatbelts?(mandatory). Almost none. So shut ur mouth and make my comment move!!! Whilst im trying to make a point so we can be safe on the road u trying to bring my comment down? Are you a law enforcement officer?
Exactly and accidents happen every day on the streets in these other countries. Numerous accidents daily. I believe Dominica has some very good drivers when compared to other countries.
Hardly a day without you hear of a traffic accident in some other countries. The solution is that everyone should be looking out for everyone. Accidents will happen. Our hope and wish should be when they happen; hopefully there is no fatality and no lost of limbs and whatever.
What surprises me about Dominicans is that we don’t seem to realize we are human beings. We can be sympathetic to the victims without being so shocked that an accident would happen on a heavily travelled road. I just pray that I never get involved in an accident whether at home or abroad.
We all have to be vigilant and look out for ourselves and the other drivers. Maybe overtaking another vehicle should be against the law and not be too much in a hurry.
Quick recovery to all with no lingering…
but where de jeep?
The crv that is the jeep. All SUV is a jeep in Dominica. U should know that.
I am not surprised. The roads in Dominica are treated by the vast majority as some kind of a playground. The police is doing very little to enforce traffic laws. Having said all that this is only part of the story, the police needs to do many more spot checks to start of with, check for unlicensed vehicles, check for cars without insurance, check for drivers without drivers permits, check the roadworthyness of the vehicles and then implement and enforce heavy fines. This will bring much needed revenue to the state and will slowly eliminate the worst vehicles and drivers from the road. I estimate that up to 40% of all vehicles are driven without a valid license and/or insurance and up to 50 % of all vehicles used are not road worthy. Now, Mr. Police Chief go and do your duty and enforce the already existing laws!!!
Cannot please you people. When Police on the road early morning conducting traffic check is all you self that grumbling and saying now is not the time for traffic check. Police of motorcycles riding up and down underneath the cliff and as soon as they leave the area, some jacka55 overtaking the line of traffic.
Some people just have a hot foot on the accelerator and these accidents are the results.
I totally agree with you! Most sensible comment here!
Under the Canefield cliff has always been a source of accidents which also caused injuries and deaths. Today, the road is wider. Drivers have more space and accidents still occur. Something is wrong with their driving. A driver did not adhere to road regulations.
Slow and steady should win the race and safely. At any time of day or night, simple road courtesy and consideration should always be observed. You cannot afford to take chances.
Now look at what occurred which may have been caused through careless driving, speeding, overtaking or not remaining in your lane. When will some drivers ever learn?
When driving around a corner, you should be patient and not try to overtake. You should remain in your lane. It would also be wise to honk your horn when (before) nearing the corner to alert the other driver. In fact, both drivers should honk their horn.
It looks as if some drivers should be required to take a driving course to upgrade their driving skills.
I am surprised there are not more accidents given the reckless nature of the drivers. Knowing the road does not mean that you can overtake and speed around blind corners- that’s just stupidity! No one should blame the authorities, this is just ridiculous driving with no respect for the rules of the road. People need to learn to drive properly and with respect. We are actually lucky that there are not more people, cars and traffic on this small island otherwise the accidents would be far greater and deadlier.
the jeep had a problem with the exhilerator.
Under Canfield cliff road is a waste. Where is the separation/the wall in between lanes
You just have vehicles overtakin left right an they expect other vehicles to slow down..
that area need speed bumps to control the speed of drivers. although there have always been accidents there, the drivers still dont take their time to drive there. they still trying to over take other vehicles that are already driving very fast..
pray for speedy recovery
So sad and unnecessary. I was caught up in the melee and i belle marché in my high heels under Canefield Cliff for the first time in my life. It cost me a half day of work; Lord protect all the injured.
Papa , thank god everybody survived, drives we must take precautions on our roads , ppl lives are priceless…
people have to learn not to overtake and I pray for the injured is the jeeps fault why would people try to overtake and I hope that the injured in the survive god I am sorry for the injured but why do people overtake I would sue the jeep driver if he wasn’t overtaking that would never happen people who are driving should take a test to see if they are overtaking :((……………………
lawlessness is so prevalent with Dominican drivers accidents like this one should not be surprising.so sad to see so many people injured some of those injuries might be life threatening. with our er so in adequate I do feel the pain of those injured.
Whenever I drive on the canefield cliff road I am always looking out for incoming mad drivers who are sometimes in my lane. I always have to make way for them, by going in the side lane. this is putting my life in great danger, because it is usually difficult to get back on the correct lane, because of the vehicles behind me. People stop this madness. Our roads were not made for changing lanes like some regional and international countries. so have respect for the lives of other drives and their passengers, even though you don’t respect yours.
Very sad news but not surprising. What is my greatest concern is that there is a widespread ignorance and lack of faith in Dominica towards the uses of seat-belts. Seat-belts prevent persons to be thrown out of the vehicle through the windshield in head-on collision. Dominican Traffic and Road Authorities should raise awareness and make it mandatory to use seat-belts.
This area needs to be patrolled more by the police.There also needs to be more traffic enforcement.Use the motorcycles.Put speed limit in problem areas like that.Those who break the speed limit,ticket them.Its also another source of revenue for the country.There should also be more traffic check points in that area.There is also a cruise ship port close by.You have to also protect the tourists from some of these reckless drivers.
This one looks real bad! Am I surprised? Not at all. I am a Dominican living abroad and when I visited DA this past Christmas and saw the non sense done on the road, all I could do was shake my head and wonder if there was an engineer present. I mean the road from PH Williams to Valley Engineering, is by far the widest, flattest, and straightest piece of road we have entering and leaving the city. In some areas it could easily be a foul lane road or at list a three lane road. For some unknown reason they made it a two lane road, one way each direction as though we are in 1960. So when persons are busy or sometimes late for work and they meet with some slow moving truck they are forced to overtake since both shoulders are wider than the lane. I mean why not make it a 3 lane road with sections where cars going south bound only can overtake and other places for N bound only? They did not even have the foresight to make turning lanes which would reduce the risk of accidents. Just poor work
Looks like some Dominican drivers don’t understand road markings. A solid Yellow line in the center of the road says a lot. Sad to hear of such an accident which has caused the death of one person. Speed limit sign won’t solve the problem those drivers are just careless and do anything crazy.
I pray for a speedy recovery to all involved in this accident reading some of you all comments make me sick am sure none of you were there especially those oversea but you have more to say that the eyewitness on the scene .is then allu know how ppl drive and what need to be done STOP BRING DOWN YOUR COUNTRY ACCIDENT HAPPEN ALL OVER THE WORLD.
I see a Toyota Hiace passenger bus. I see a Honda CRV. I see no “Jeep” the news article is referring too. Seems like once its an SUV,….it’s a “Jeep”.
just like how all bleach is clorox, all toothpaste is colgate and all nail polish is cutex…
lighten up…at least you got the story didn’t you?
I will be honest, i have driven on the canefield stretch (last i visited) and its a nice stretch to fly (im being sarcastic) and with that in mind, i really think gment should make the extra effort to put speed bumps along the way, they can save lives!! Saying a prayer for all those involved in such an accident!!
JayJay, putting speed pumps on that road is asking for more problems. That is when you gonna have multiple road fatalities.
My heat goes out to the victims of this accident and pray continually for their well being . I do call upon drivers especially those transporting passengers not excluding children , to be extremely cautious . Getting to Roseau from Portsmouth takes less than 45mins , from St joe less than 25mins , no need to go speeding , this is not the ” too fast and too furious 7 “, and if you forget one of the key characters died in a road fatality . Drivers too often , too many accidents and I fear if you fail to practice courteous driving skills , your poor consideration will result in innocent deaths .
was in the traffic jam this morning and I must say that the main cause of the long delay was the police. there is no rapid response team, well only fro drugs. when they arrived, all involved were at the hospital, so you cannot question or take a statement from the driver on the scene., it’s a matter of taking measurements and moving the vehicles to the side so commuters can move on, I saw people working to work and college student walking to school in that blazing sun…. the level of efficiency in all aspect of services is rather poor and yet we still beat up our chest as if Dominican is a world class nation.
Hey everyone the Lord say in all things give thanks, just pray
hope no one is dead or critically injured.will keep you all in my prayers….judging on that large crowd on the scene first day of the week its very obvious that Dominica really have a high rate of UN-EMPLOYMENT
They are driving too dam fast and recklessly under the cliff.
It is about time the government started implementing traffic control measures, and enforcement personnel to help control these traffic madness taking place on Dominica’s roads.
CCTV and speed cameras installed at known accident blackspots and on sections of the roads known for speeding would be a good start.
If some of these idiots are hit severely in the pocket if caught speeding or driving inappropriately, then they will start to display greater safety regards and awareness towards other road users.
The revenue generated from speeding fines could then be invested to improve sections of the roads that are considered to be dangerous or accident blackspots.
There are so many initiatives or control measures that the government could implement, but they seem bereft of ideas.
Some of these accidents can be avoided if robust control measures are implemented on the roads.
So come on SKERRIT, wake up and act right now to save lives and limb.
Traffic safety officers should be visible at all time on our roads. We have motor cycles now. There are no more excuses to be had anymore.
We also need more public service campaigns and signs reminding drivers to drive safely and obey the rules of the road. A combination of programs are required to address this.
We also need to change how vehicles are inspected and certified as road worthy. Every vehicle should be inspected by a trained mechanic and certified as road worthy before they’re allowed to be on the road. Police Officers from the “Traffic Department” should not be inspecting vehicles as they are unable to tell whether or not a vehicle is road worthy, based simple routine checks.
That to me looks more like careless driving and with no regards to passengers! see how fast they got to their destination? just by going that EXTRY MPH.. SEE…taking others lives for granted while taking cow to the slaughter house…one day our country will put some effort in protecting other by implementing speed limit road signs…Accident do happen but being irresponsible is sometime the main cause. That day they come up with flying busses/cars!!! we will be buying tomb stone instead of gas…SPEED LIMIT PEASE……..
This is very sad and unfortunate. I sincerely do hope that no one has been killed or severely injured.
While I am not fully aware of the circumstances that caused the accident; I am fully aware of the manner in which some of these idiots drive on the roads in Dominica.
They overtake at sharp bends, some bus drivers display total disregard towards the safety of their passengers, alot of the drivers will drive on the opposite side of the road to avoid potholes, even when they can clearly see oncoming vehicles approaching them; and during the night the drivers approach uncoming vehicles with their full beam headlights on and ignore you when you flash them to dip their headlights.
These are my observations whenever I come home to Dominica on holiday from the UK.
How the hell some of them manage to get their driving license is beyond me.
Until some of these idiots display greater safety awareness to other road users, then their will always be horrific accidents taking place.
Some people may get angry at me because of what I am about to say; but I do not care, I will say it anyway! I believe all, if not more than 80% of the accidenta occurring in Dominica are caused by drunk driving; and most of the time showing off how the can drive by speeding!
Our roads are too narrow for that sort of thing. In California, we drive on three, and four lanes of traffic on the Freeway’s, heading in the same direction, some people are going eighty and a hundred miles per hour, yet we do not find people colliding into other cars, and the eighteen wheeler trucks we encounter every day.
It is all madness in Dominica, some of the injured may not even know they can sue the driver for damages, sue the company which carry’s their insurance!
I am not surprise at this accident,infact i am surprise that we have not had more accidents under the cliff. Motorist are driving recklessly endangering other people’s life. But I ask myself where are the policemen? The only time you see a policeman is at the end of the month when they stop motorist checking for tax. I am making a plea to the traffic officers,please show yourselves and make an example of those reckless drivers. A heavy fine, confiscation of drivers liscence, and yes imprisoment for dangerous driving otherwise we are going to have many more accidents which are avoidable. So please less talk and more action.
Bus drivers with loaded buses including children race along this section of the road all the time while the police officer sits on a motorcycle close to the Old Mill doing nothing. Morning rush traffic is allowed to do what it likes and the only police presence is at the top of the hill on Virgin Lane. At one time there were police at all the intersections in Roseau directing the flow but now we are at the next level of policing which is drivers do your thing. It always has to take a bad accident to wake people up and we will hear about seat belts, speed limits, tires and more and then a week or two later it is back to the same old thing.
You know unless there are posted sings indicating speed limits, the police cannot cite someone for speeding, even in their presence.
Unless there is a law stating that driver should not drive with one hand, and a drink of beer, or rum in the other the police cannot arrest a driver for that offence! I’ve driven with people in Dominica who have done just that; I’ve driven with people who stops at the first and every rum shop they drive by.
Most of the illegal behavior in our country seems to be traditional even the police conduct themselves in that manner. I remember more than twenty years ago when the coalition government took power one of their first priorities was to ensure that the price of rum remained cheap, I remember the woman Barnis said “we are working feverishly so that people can pay less for their rum!” So, what do we expect, an inebriated nation, I suppose!
all suv’s are not “jeeps”
Thanks for the info. To think all these years I was thinking my Escalade was a Jeep!
Lol
So we be Dominica
Same problem with Colgate, Breeze, Clorox etc… Those where the first brands were introduced to us.
If you do some research you will find that there is a difference between Jeep and jeep. The first is a brand the second has become a common way to refer to suv’s. Over time brand names become synonymous with certain products and they become a defacto name for these products
Not all SUVs are Jeeps
Stop being smart and research that the term Jeep was used to describe a type of vehicle long before the brand. It became common expression for certain types of vehicles. Like some people say clorox for bleach and kleenex for tissue.
http://olive-drab.com/od_mvg_www_jeeps_origin_term.php
Thank You! In this country you can drive a Honda CRV, a Toyota Road Runner, A Suzuki, A Kia, A WHATEVER! Everything is a JEEP! Oh Boy! Country Country. Jeep is a brand all its own! But wait all diapers are PAMPERS right? And yeah all toothpaste is the wonderful COLGATE. Gotta love it!
boy dominicans like beff…
And you don’t ?
while it is true some of us drive arbitrary the major problem in dominica’s traffic go unnotice 55 percent of we vehicle owners allow some friend some family member to drive our vehicle without being on the insurance and dat even being worst than driving wrecklesly for eg ur vehicle is insured but the person driving the vehicle is not suppose too end up in an accident u lose ur leg ur spine got broken nothing for u dominican vehicle owners please ensure who ever seats behind the wheel is on ur insurance and its time we enforce this in our traffic law
You do know if you lend your vehicle to anyone and an accident occurred whether it was caused by the one who was driving it or not, you will be held responsible. If this person is not insured, you will bear the cost of damage, injuries and loss of life, if any. This would amount to an exorbitant sum.
Drivers in DA are ridiculous with their overtaking. No matter how fast you are driving, they NEED to overtake and they don’t care if it’s a blind corner, raining or whatever. The joke is they never really get any further than you in the end. The Canefield Cliff road is the worst for this especially at night when you can’t even tell if someone is in your lane heading right at you because of the curves. I have had some serious close calls with these idiots.
so true. what’s the point of overtaking under the cliff and by the time u reach by west indies oil u block in traffic.
the officers need to start ticketing these reckless drivers. some are just fools that u wonder how they get license.
an issue I also agree on is that under the cliff is poorly lighted. I can barely see at night. poor job done there.
There are too many Dominicans that think that they know how to drive because they go fast and pass others driving dangerously. These people DON”T know how to drive but the police never cite these people. That is how DA should be making its’ money, NOT taxing people to death at the port. Insurance coverage in DA is not very good. To get the really good coverage you have to pay through the nose.
So true..there’s no police patrol around the island ticketting crazy wreckless drivers. Our drivers overtake anywhere and yeah they over take just to place themself infront and be satisfied they are in the lead..a lot of revenue can be made just patroling the highways and even inside the towns..
Lord protect my Country and it people. To the drivers If you don’t value your life that fine . Please value the life of other drivers and passengers that a using the roads. This area under the cliff is very dangerous and drivers are using the roads so reckless
i dont understand how these accidents occur under the cliff,when there is so much space,there is even a extra lane so i dont understand
its called reckless driving
Please tell me where this extra lane is.
The Canefield Highway ONLY has two (2) lanes. The other so called lanes are known as ‘hard shoulder’.
They are emergency lanes (breakdowns &, police/ambulance/fire service usage).
The ONLY time every day drivers can make use of the ‘hard shoulder’ is if a vehicle has broken down and is causing a traffic jam, then the traffic police will divert traffic onto the ‘hard shoulder’.
Now I know why there are so many accidents on this stretch of road, people actually think its for their
usage.
The extra lane is for pedestrians not vehicle owners.
That area of road is DA’s answer to a freeway for these people so they figure that they can do all kinds of fancy driving. That is where there should be police stationed to hand out tickets.
You can’t too busy to attend your own funeral so what the extra rush? Driving in the wrong(opposite) direction is totally wrong. That’s what has been happening under that cliff. Drivers leave their lane and drive in the opposite lane just to overtake.
Pray that the injured have a speedy recovery from their injuries. It’s almost six years correct me if I’m wrong, and this LeBlanc Highway has no road SIGNS; SUCH AS SPEED LIMIT ETC. The Government of the day and also the former Minister of Public Works should have implemented same. As a result of this serious road accident, that solutions will be done.
Where are the Traffic Officer on the motor cycles. Crazy driving under the cliff everyday.
Persons need to be charged for violating traffic rules. Officers do your work and out some money
in the Treasury. I am on that road everyday it is dangerous!!!!!
They’re busy riding around with their girlfriends on the bikes. Traffic safety is the least of their concern. These motor cycles were issued to them, so that their women could get a veep.
When was the last time someone got charged for a traffic violation in DA?
Every driver breaks traffic laws in DA on a regular basis and no one gets charged.
And when those very same officers charge people for violating traffic rules, you may be one of the first to come here and say that, there are crimes to be solved, drug dealers to go after, why isn’t the police going after those criminals….
Right or wrong?
Please put speed limits n cctv cam in area
It 2015 above goes with technology. .
What difference will that make? Don’t you think the driver whio was in the wrong knew he was driving dangerously?
They need to enforce the law and bring heavy fines against people who driver recklessly.
Many laws in Dominica are as good as useless.
Some drivers in Dominica does not drive according to the road conditions they believed they on a highway when they on the nor row roads, I pray for those involved in this terrible accident I hope they recovered from their injuries.
actually in this case they were on a highway
Really DA Got a highway?! CHA! Been around too many times and it’s always the same thing with them and their CRAZY DRIVING! Everyone thinks that they’re such a good driver but one thing I’ve learned is…when driving you drive with caution for you and and other drivers to cuz some of them just crazy!
Dahman long you haven’t visited, you must come home for a vacation!
oh my this is so sad..I pray everyone is ok n no one has died
I pray for no loss of life as well as a speedy recovery for all persons involved.
Hopefully our fine law enforcement officials will conduct an investigation of this incident, and hopefully some corrective measures / recommendations can be shared with the general public at large.
Lord I pray and hope that persons involved are not badly injured and will be home with their loved ones in no time…..
They tell them they have highway, without speed limit or highway code, so what did you all expect?
You make no sense. Go get a life, idiot!
Garcon what code and speed limit you talking about na man? This is Dominica!! Thought and deliberation and logic are always absent. It’s “Wash your foot and come.”
Drivers are passing traffic and expect the incoming traffic to get out of their way b going to what is marked as the sidewalk,sometime even getting upset when you remain in your lane as if the standard was set and it was legal what they were now forcing you to do to avoid a head on collision.
If drivers continue there will be many more accidents
Yes! That is exactly my experience. They more vex than you when you don’t move. I agree with the other comment. Law enforcement offficers need torequent the area and/or install cctv to enforce the speed limit with high fines
I don’t know about you, but if I see another car barrelling down at me, I will move out of the way to avoid an accident (even if the other driver is in the wrong).
Idiots that overtake and desroys peoples lives.
DA is full of them.
Hope everyone survive..