It was about 11:38 p.m. on Tuesday, November 22, when 23-year-old Jodian Duncan messaged her grandmother.
It was the routine for Jodian to text her grandmother, Marvia Patterson, who is in New York City, USA, to notify her that she was on her way home from work at the Grand Bahia Principe Hotel, Runaway Bay.
According to Jodian’s aunt, Denise Patterson-Wallace in an interview with The Times, her niece has messaged her mother (Jodian’s grandmother) to let her know that she was on her way home and she would notify her when she got home to Exchange, St Ann.
However, tragedy struck that will forever leave a dent in the hearts of her loved ones.
Police said that it was about 11:45 p.m., Jodian was among ten passengers on board a 29-seater Grand Bahia Principe staff bus travelling east towards Ocho Rios.
Disaster occurred when the bus collided into a truck, which was parked in the vicinity of the Pearly Beach property on the Dunn’s River main road.
Jodian, who her relatives describe as kind, loving and always helpful, died on impact. Video and audio from the scene suggested she could not have survived.
Another female, Shanique Grey died at the hospital.
ONLY MAYBE
Jodian’s aunt, Mrs Patterson-Wallace, explained that she wondered if her niece had stopped off by her at her residence in Mammee Bay, St Ann, “maybe” she would not have been in the fatal crash.
“Jodi (Jodian Duncan) cannot be replaced and cannot be forgotten. I don’t know what God has planned for me, but me nuh know how me ago get over this one,” Mrs Patterson-Wallace told The Times on Monday.
HELPFUL
Throughout the interview, the words “helpful” was repeated by Jodian’s aunt. Mrs Patterson-Wallace was close to Jodian, who had been there for her through her (Mrs Patterson-Wallace’s) own illness.
“She (Jodian) was my right hand… I am sick and Jodi was partially living with me. I was in the hospital for three weeks and Jodi was there with me. She would even help out with my daughter. When she found out I was sick, she didn’t want to lose me… I did surgery in June and Jodi bathe me. She would even help turn me over, because I could not move on my own. If she is there in the nights, every hour she would come over the room and check on me… I don’t know how I am going to get over this,” Mrs Patterson-Wallace explained.
She said that Jodian stayed with her and her grandmother (who is currently overseas) in Mammee Bay on some nights and stayed with her father, Glenroy Duncan in Exchange on other nights.
On the night of the crash, she was heading home to Exchange.
FAMILY IN DISBELIEF
Mrs Patterson-Wallace pointed out that her brother, Glenroy Duncan (Jodian’s father) is also not dealing with the death so well. “He is a carpenter and he hasn’t been working since… But he is trying his best to cheer me up,” she said.
She also pointed out that Jodian’s grandmother, Marvia Patterson, who also raised Jodi is in disbelief.
“She (Marvia Patterson) calls me sometimes and asks me if me sure it is real. She is in disbelief and I am in disbelief. Nobody has anything bad to say about Jodi. Most persons remember her as quiet… This is just so much,” Mrs Patterson-Wallace said.
She added that Jodian, who is a past student of the Marcus Garvey Technical High School, was on leave and had gone back to work recently.
Jodian’s association with Grand Bahia Principe Hotel, according to her aunt, began when she was a student at the College of Hospitality in St Ann and later did working experience at the hotel.
She was later employed by the hotel and was there about two years. At the time of her death, she was working as a member of the dining room staff.
PROMISE BROKEN
Mrs Patterson-Wallace explained that the last time she heard from her niece was on Monday evening, when she (Jodian) had made a promise to take her out on her birthday to a new restaurant, last Friday.
“It was the worst birthday ever,” she said.
The Exchange and Mammee Bay communities are both in disbelief at the tragic passing of Jodian Duncan.
In the meantime, the police investigators have said that the driver of the ill-fated coaster bus has been warned for prosecution.
