A soldier and police personnel examine the wrecked remains of a mini van that was trapped and washed away in the Grants Pen Gully, upper St Andrew yesterday, following heavy showers. The gully is one of many in the Corporate Area that motorists are asked to avoid when it rains as they are susceptible to severe flooding. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

A security vehicle with three male occupants was washed away at the Grants Pen Gully, St Andrew, following heavy rains yesterday afternoon.

The sudden downpour has left several roads impassable in the parishes of St Catherine and St Andrew, while some in Kingston have been affected by flooding and heavy silt.

The Grants Pen police said two security guards and a sales representative from Carreras Tobacco Company, were in the van when it was washed away.

Two of the occupants escaped, but the other had to be rescued. He was taken to the University Hospital of the West Indies for treatment.

Impassable

Late yesterday afternoon, Stephen Shaw, manager of communication and customer services at the National Works Agency (NWA), reported that 15 roadways were affected and that six were impassable.

Shaw said the NWA would have been mobilising teams to re-open blocked roadways and start damage assessments on the corridors.

Sections of the Harbour View ford which accommodates large vehicles were also washed out during the showers yesterday.

Communications and customers manager at the Transport Ministry Reginald Allen said work will be carried out on the ford to ensure that it is restored sometime today.

BLOCKED ROADS

St Catherine

Tulloch to Zion Hill bridge,

Zion Hill bridge to Freetown,

Zion Hill bridge to Parkes Road.

St Andrew

Stony Hill to Parkes Road,

Golden Spring to Mount Airy,

Papine to Redlight district,

Maryland to Woodford,

Woodford to Norbrok,

Stony Hill to Toms River,

Guava Ridge to Coopers Ridge,

Old Stony Hill Road,

Norbrook Drive,

Orange Grove.