Mass casualty protocol activated: 20 injured after minibus and truck collide

A mass casualty protocol was activated early Tuesday morning following a collision between a utility truck and a minibus along Foursquare Road, St Philip. Approximately 20 individuals sustained various injuries, prompting a coordinated multi-agency emergency response.

The incident occurred around 6:20 a.m., triggering immediate action from The Barbados Police Service, Queen Elizabeth Hospital personnel, the Barbados Fire Service, the Barbados Ambulance Service, and the Barbados Defence Force. Personnel from the Rapid Response Unit were also on the scene, assisting.

Speaking to the media at the site, Assistant Superintendent Stephen Griffith of the Oistins Police Station said, “a number of persons were hurt, which caused a mass casualty situation to be put in place” and emergency services were swiftly mobilised.

Medical Consultant with the Emergency Ambulance Service, Dr David Byer, said that most of the injuries sustained were to the extremities, back and neck.

“Four of those persons were transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance for further evaluation. Four persons [with injuries] considered minor were being transferred to the Sir Winston Scott Polyclinic for further care, and the remaining 12 would have been seen and discharged,” Dr Byer said.

He added that there were no critical injuries requiring intensive care, and some individuals opted to seek private medical treatment.

The ambulance service deployed four ambulances and one on-site physician.

Divisional Officer Martin Small of the Barbados Fire Service said two appliances—one from Bridgetown Fire Station and another from Worthing—with a total of nine officers and three senior officers, were deployed.

Colonel Sergeant Richard Morgan of the Barbados Defence Force said his team responded with one ambulance and 16 personnel from St Ann’s Fort, as well as 24 persons from Paragon Base.

Investigations are ongoing into the accident.

Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the accident or may have relevant information to contact them at 211 or call the Oistins Police Station at 416-8200.