Fourteen people died in a traffic crash on December 19, 2008, when the market truck in which they were travelling plunged over a precipice.

However, Public Defender Earl Witter said it was too early in the investigation by his office to determine the liability of the State, if any, in the deaths of the victims.

"The width of the road and the condition of it at the material time are among the circumstances which will be taken into account in determining the findings and recommendations," Witter told The Gleaner yesterday.

Calvin Campbell, special projects manager in the Office of the Public Defender, explained during the site visit on Wednesday that his team was on a fact-finding mission to guide the public defender on how to proceed.

Uncollected debris

"It is obvious that the roadway is narrowing as a result of uncollected debris," Campbell said.

"It is difficult for heavy-duty vehicles to access this narrow roadway. We will also have to alert authorities as to any dangers, which could cause persons to feel unsafe while accessing this roadway, for them to take the necessary steps to address the situation."

The investigators also noted that some sections of the roadway, leading from the accident site, measure only 14 feet in width, below the 24 feet prescribed by law. In fact, at the accident scene itself, the roadway measured 17 feet across.

Meanwhile, the Government has finalised funeral plans for the 14 victims.

The funerals will take place from January 15-25. One service is scheduled for January 15 and another for January 17.

Five of the victims will be buried on January 18. The remaining seven will be buried on January 25. Prime Minister Bruce Golding will be among the Government representatives attending the funeral on January 25.