10-Y-O WAS RETURNING FROM SCHOOL WHEN HIT BY STEEL
DISCOVERY BAY, St Ann; March 15, 2025
A 10-year-old St Ann girl is dead following a freak accident, in Discovery Bay in the parish, in which she was hit with a piece of steel from a truck.
(Jada Lee Clayton)
Dead is grade four student Jada-Lee Clayton, of Discovery Bay Primary School and resident of Adna-Grass near, Discovery Bay.
Jada-Lee died Thursday, March 13, in May Pen Hospital Clarendon where she had been taken on the same day. Between the time she was hit to the ground by the piece of steel two weeks earlier on February 26, 2025, her condition deteriorated to the point where she had swelling around the hips, she could not sit up, and she complained of severe pain. In the end she could not walk.
Jada-Lee was the only child for her father, Derrick Clayton, a mechanic, sound man and tattoo artist. She lived with him, his mother and an extended family. He told the North Coast Times, “I don’t even know what to do. Is my only pickney.”
(Jada-Lee in her community)
On Wednesday afternoon, February 26, she and a schoolmate were walking home from school. The two were accompanied by her schoolmate’s mother. They were on the sidewalk of the Discovery Bay main road when there was a crash involving a Coaster bus and a truck that had just left a hardware.
A piece of steel hit Jada-Lee to the ground and also hit her schoolmate. Jada-Lee was taken to see a doctor in Discovery Bay and given painkillers and also sent to do an x-ray. The family was told there appeared no serious issue and Jada-Lee was sent home. She was in so much discomfort she did not return to school.
In subsequent days, her condition got worse and she was taken to St Ann’s Bay hospital on Thursday, March 6. She was seen, another x-ray was done, and she returned home on the same day.
Her aunt Shellian Williams and her grandmother, Susan Menzie, with whom she shared a close bond, said Jada-Lee’s conditions worsened, after that visit. They said they could not bear looking at her as she suffered
On Thursday, Jada-Lee’s mother, who lives in Clarendon went to get her in Discovery Bay. Accompanied Ms Williams and Ms Menzie, they took Jada to May Pen Hospital where she was admitted immediately.
The girl died hours later Thursday evening.
The family has taken it badly. Her father is repeatedly breaking down and is trying to understand who will take responsibility for his daughter’s death.
While the North Coast Times was in contact with the family just after midday, Saturday, March 15, Ms Menzie broke down, became hysterical and was demanding to be taken to Jadalee and to bring her home.
Counselling is expected at the Discovery Bay Primary School on Monday
