Buff Bay, Portland - Christopher Clarke, the 31-year-old mechanic and driver of the market truck that plunged over the ravine at Dam Bridge in the Rio Grande Valley on December 19, 2008 killing 14 persons, was offered $1 million bail yesterday in the Resident Magistrate's Court here by Justice Marjorie Moyston.

Clarke was charged on Monday by the Port Antonio police with 14 counts of manslaughter, driving without insurance, operating contrary to a driver's licence, and failing to report an accident.

Clarke, who had fled the accident scene, turned himself in to the police on December 30. He was accompanied by his attorney, Carl McDonald.

Yesterday, Clarke, who had a heavy bandage on the fourth finger on his left hand, stood in the dock as McDonald tried hard to have the manslaughter charge dropped by arguing that his client was not a reckless or negligent driver but that the road was defective.

McDonald told the court that at the identification parade two of the survivors showed support for Clarke. One, he said, "hugged him tight" and the other "refused to take part in
the parade".

He stated that the section of the road where the accident occurred is "significantly narrow" and his client had stopped the truck to allow a car to pass when the left back wheel of the truck went over the edge and the vehicle fell backward, due to the weight of the load.

The truck was transporting approximately 20 vendors and their produce from Portland to Kingston.

McDonald tried to convince the judge that the only evidence that can be used is that of Balford Richards, who, he insisted, was the sole passenger in the front seat of the truck at the time of the accident.

McDonald also stated that his client did not flee the scene of the accident, rather "panic set in, and he sought assistance from his sister to turn himself in".

The clerk of court pointed out that the case file was not ready but McDonald was not happy as he said statements were collected and they could have been copied and presented to him as they do not necessarily have to be typed.

In addition to the bail, Justice Moyston ordered that Clarke surrender his travel documents and report to the Port Antonio Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm.

However, McDonald pointed out to the court that his client's passport has expired.

Clarke is still in custody and is to return to court on January 14.