Port Antonio, Portland

The driver of the ill-fated truck involved in an accident that claimed the lives of 14 people in the Rio Grande Valley of Portland on December 19 is to resume counselling sessions this morning.

Thirty-one-year-old mechanic Christopher Devon Clarke turned himself in to the Port Antonio police about 2:15 a.m. yesterday, accompanied by his attorney, Karl McDonald.

Sergeant Dwayne Campbell, Constabulary Communication Network liaison officer for the parish, said Clarke would receive more counselling today after going through a session yesterday.

"Based on my personal observation, he appears to be traumatised by the events of the accident," Campbell said. "He also received medical attention and appears to be in good physical condition, but is mentally traumatised as a result of having flashbacks of the accident."

Campbell said the counselling sessions were being conducted by trained personnel from the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

Visible bruises

He said Clarke, who has several visible bruises on his arms, chest and face, would probably be interrogated as early as Thursday by detectives from the Criminal Investigation Branch in Port Antonio.

Clarke was on the run for 10 days after the fatal accident in which a market truck he was driving plunged over a precipice at Dam Bridge in the Rio Grande Valley.

Seven persons survived the horrific accident and only Lynford Jackson remains in hospital at St Ann's Bay, recovering from a fractured arm and leg.

The 14 people killed in the accident were from the communities of Millbank, Ginger House and Comfort Castle.

The truck had been transporting vendors and farm produce to Coronation Market in Kingston.