Some passengers have reported being temporarily trapped in two Transport Board electric buses after a head on crash, meanwhile the Board’s management insists they are safety features on the vehicles in case of power loss.

Sixty one people, mostly students on their way to school, were injured when the two buses collided around 9am at Lower Carlton, St. James.

Five ambulances responded to the mass casualty along with personnel from the Fire Service, Defense Force and the Department of Emergency Management.

An incident command center was set up where the injured were treated at the scene by a medical team led by the head of the Accident and Emergency Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Dr. David Byer.

Nineteen of the injured, including one of the bus drivers, were transported to QEH by ambulance, 27 were treated and discharged at the scene, 8 were referred to a polyclinic and 7 sought private medical attention.

But immediately after the crash there was panic among the passengers who tried to exit the crippled electric vehicles.

A passenger on one of the buses that collided this morning.

Chief Executive Officer of the Transport Board, Fabian Wharton, has responded to the safety concerns stating that the vehicles have built in safety features.

Mr. Wharton promises a campaign to educate commuters about safety features on the buses. He also extended his sympathies to those injured in the crash.

Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Transport Board, Fabian Wharton

Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw, the Minister of Transport and Works, made mention of the collision as the House of Assembly passed amendments to the Road Traffic Act.

She appealed for greater care on the roads…

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Works, Santia Bradshaw.