The car in which some of the students were travelling. - Noel Thompson

Samantha Hastings, a 15-year-old student of the Grange Hill High School in Westmore-land died in an accident along the Three Miles River main road in the parish last evening.

At least 16 other students were injured in the accident. Some of the injured, who are between 13 and 17 years, were treated at the Savanna-La-Mar General Hospital, while others were kept over for observation.

There were mixed reports about the cause of the accident. However, witnesses told THE STAR that about 6 p.m., three taxis were travelling along the main road heading toward Savanna-La-Mar.

Students who were passengers in two of the cars told THE STAR that one of the cars was carrying seven students, and the other reportedly had 11.

overtaking

They said one car was overtaking the other, "when he swerved from an oncoming car. The driver lost control of the vehicle which flipped in the air twice and landed in a gutter. The other cars also slammed into that car," a student said.

Hastings, from Cook Street in the parish, was trapped inside the car and fire fighters had to cut her free. She died on the spot. Errol Stewart, Dean of Discipline at her school, said they were extremely saddened by the tragedy.

"We are trying to cope as we all grieve Samantha's loss. She was one of our own and this will be very hard without having her around," he said. Stewart said he had been in dialogue with the principal, Alton Ruddock and they had agreed to offer counselling both to those injured as well as to the entire school family.

The drivers of the ill-fated cars were detained at the Savanna-La-Mar police station last night. Investigations are being carried out by Corporal Roy Thompson of the Savanna-La-Mar police.