11PM January 16, 2012
A large, fully loaded dump truck has run out of control from Petionville down Autoroute Delmas, killing and injuring many, many people as it plunged through the street crowded with market ladies and customers along this always busy route.
Bodies of the dead, and badly injured people were scattered everywhere amongst the debris of the disaster. Other vehicles were crushed like paper as the behemoth plunged downwards…perhaps with failed brakes. The huge truck finally careened off the street and overturned, burying more people beneath its load of rubble as this spilled across the sidewalk.
Washington Post VIDEO of crash scene
Many families will be waiting for the mother to return from selling some small bread, or vegetables to support them. Many will not return tonight; gone forever. Others will be badly injured, with no real medical assistance in this desperately poor nation.
Our hearts go out to these people.
They deserve better but often receive less.
President Martelly is on the scene.
This was the perfect opportunity for Michel Martelly to show leadership.
He could have shipped the injured to Cuba for medical treatment, since we are not capable here in Haiti.
Where was the emergency response team??
Where were the police.
Where was MINUSTAH.
All we saw was a carnival atmosphere with hundreds of people milling around, looking at the disaster.
It was like the Martelly government – a ship without a rudder.
And rumor has it that someone, in the Martelly circle, has just bought a $3,500,000 yacht!!
This is an embarrassment, if true. With the way things are going, it is probably true.