Two schoolchildren hospitalised after boulder falls on trio walking to school along dangerous route in Breadnut Walk.
A boulder struck three children as they made their way to Merry Wood Primary School along train tracks in Breadnut Walk, north-western St Elizabeth, on Friday morning, according to the Jamaica Observer. Two of the injured children, ages nine and 10, were admitted to hospital, with one receiving care at a Corporate Area facility, while the third child was treated and released.
The incident highlights the perilous conditions residents face in accessing basic services. Breadnut Walk resident Daisy Gordon explained that families have no choice but to use the train tracks because the community roads are severely deteriorated. “The road turn bush, it is just a donkey track,” Gordon said, describing roads so damaged they resemble tunnels at risk of collapse. She noted that schoolchildren must travel from Breadnut Walk to Holland Village for education, as no primary school serves their immediate area.
According to the Jamaica Observer, residents from adjoining districts including Merry Wood and Ipswich also rely on the train track route. Councillor Clinton Samuels of the Jamaica Labour Party’s Ipswich division confirmed that the rail line offers a journey of just over one kilometre, compared to a 3.6-kilometre trek on the community road—a distance that vehicles cannot safely traverse due to the road’s condition.
Omar Smith, another resident, described the emotional toll of the incident. He noted that he and others had to walk more than a mile to reach transportation to take the injured children to hospital. “When I came and saw the little girl, it was bad,” Smith told the Jamaica Observer, reflecting the community’s distress over the preventable tragedy.
Breadnut Walk and surrounding communities in north-western St Elizabeth have long struggled with inadequate road infrastructure. The deterioration of community roads has forced residents, including schoolchildren, to use railway tracks as a primary thoroughfare—a practice that exposes them to hazards including falling debris and train traffic.
This incident underscores infrastructure challenges affecting Caribbean communities, where inadequate road maintenance forces vulnerable populations, especially children, into dangerous situations. The story reflects broader regional issues of unequal service delivery and the disproportionate impact on rural and underserved areas.
Written & Edited by Orlyn Edwards. Published by Caribbean Air Force Media.
Category: News · Island routing: Jamaica