Fallen utility pole blocking road in rural St Andrew

Simone Morgan-Lindo

STAR Writer

The driver of a Subaru motor car said he narrowly escaped being struck by a falling utility pole along the Golden Spring to Mount Friendship main road in St Andrew earlier this afternoon.

"If I was two seconds earlier, mi get knock. Mi usually complain about the potholes but, if it wasn't because I had to slow down because of one, the pole would drop on mi car. Mi watch everything just happen in front of me. A truck get tangled in one of the low-lying wires and it just bring the light post down," he said.

The pole gave way shortly after midday. This caused a traffic standstill and residents of Mount Friendship and surrounding communities could be marooned until it is removed. Another resident who resides in Iron River said the pole was an accident waiting to happen. He said it was tilting heavily to one side following the heavy rains last November, and, although residents brought the matter to the attention of the relevant authorities, no steps were taken to rectify the situation.

"Is a truck man who nuh come from up here a pass. Him never know say wire hang out in the road, suh him hitch on it and the post come down. This mash up everyone day because the only other way is Brandon Hill, and only big vehicles can travel round there because the road very bad," he said.

With current still active in the pole, a policeman was observed warning persons not to attempt to walk across the wires. His warnings fell on deaf years as dozens of residents, including a pregnant woman, took their chances and jumped over the pole and wires. Delivery riders were also observed lifting their motorcycles over the pole.