Mother and daughter killed in Bluefields, Westmoreland crash laid to rest

Three months after their tragic deaths, family and friends gathered solemnly at the Church of God of Prophecy in Whitehouse, Westmoreland on Saturday to celebrate the lives of 15-year-old schoolgirl Lavecia Forrester and her 39-year-old mother Petrina Wallace.

The bereaved wept openly at the loss of a sister, daughter, granddaughter and schoolmate.

Lavecia, who was a student of Petersfield High School, and her mother Petrina of Gordon district in Whitehouse, along with Janet Thompson, 54, of McAlpine, Oneil Allen, and his mother, 65-year-old Angela Samuel, both of Mount Edgecombe also in Westmoreland, died in a fatal collision in Bluefields.

It is reported that about 3:30 p.m. on November 13, 2023, the five people and another passenger were aboard a grey Toyota Noah being driven by 47-year-old Delroy Rodney of Belmont district when the minivan collided with a truck, which was travelling in the opposite direction on the Bluefields road.

Thompson was laid to rest on December 30 last year.

Michael Jackson, senior justice of the peace and a member of the Whitehouse community, in his tribute to the bereaved family, who were largely attired in pink and white, assured that the community will continue to rally around them.

“On behalf of the community of Whitehouse, let me extend sincere condolences to your family,” Jackson said.

“However sombre this day is I am assuring you that we will continue to pray for you. We will be there for you and we will never leave you out,” he said.

Teachers and students of the Petersfield High School also a gave tribute in song.

- Albert Ferguson 

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