Driver gets license suspended after schoolboy was thrown from moving passenger van

A video circulating on social media showing a male student of a Kingstown-based school falling from a passenger van has resulted in multiple charges being laid against the conductor and driver of the vehicle.

A release from police states that the incident occurred on September 12, 2024, and six charges in total were brought on September 26.

The van was in the process of loading passengers in the vicinity of St Joseph’s Convent, Kingstown. The student was sitting next to the door when the van pulled off with the door still open, resulting in him falling from the moving minivan onto the street.

The driver, Jerden Jacobs of Green Hill, was charged with driving without a licensed conductor on board; driving in a manner dangerous to the public; permitting a conductor to ride elsewhere other than inside the vehicle; and playing a musical instrument in a public place without written permission.

The conductor, Joelando Browne, also a resident of Green Hill, was charged with acting as a conductor without the proper permit; riding the vehicle in an unsafe manner, outside of the designated area.

In addition to the charges, the police also moved to suspend the license of Jacobs with immediate effect in accordance with Section 48 (1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Regulations, Chapter 483 of the Revised Edition of the Laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 2009.

The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) is encouraging all road users to strictly comply with the Traffic Laws to prevent incidents of this nature, and also to ensure the safety and well-being of all members of the public. They also urged the public to report any traffic violations or suspicious activity they may observe. The current condition of the student is not known.