WESTERN BUREAU:

A 38-YEAR-OLD bus driver was killed and 12 commuters seriously injured yesterday morning when the Toyota Hiace mini-bus in which they were travelling along the Lucea to Montego Bay main road, crashed in the Unity Hall area of St. James.

The dead man has been identified as Shelton Webster, of a Greenland address, near Lucea, Hanover. Eight commuters were admitted to hospital and four treated and released. The injured, some of whom suffered broken bones and extensive lacerations, included a baby girl, who was rushed into emergency surgery at the Cornwall Regional Hospital and was slated to be airlifted to a medical facility in Kingston.

According to 29-year-old Kevin Crooks, who was sitting in the front of the vehicle with Mr. Webster, the bus was travelling at a moderate speed along the road, which was made damp by an early morning shower, when it skidded and ran into a tree.

"I just saw the van start sliding and then it began swinging from side to side before it hit the tree," said Crooks, who was uncertain as to whether he had jumped out of the vehicle or was thrown out by the impact. "I found myself outside and I heard the other passengers bawling out for help."

Conloid Peterkin, a resident of Unity Hall, who heard the crash and rushed to the scene, said when he got there, the passengers were still trapped in the van. He said he joined other persons in pulling those who were injured from the wreck.

"The driver died on the spot as he was trapped between the door and had two big wounds in his forehead," said Mr. Peterkin.