The day was October10, 2007, a day that began like most other days for the people of Linden.People went about their usual businesses, either going off to work or sending their children to school, and doing all the myriad activities that people get caught up in during the course of any normal day.No one could have guessed that, before the end of the day, something as horrific as a smash-up that would claim multiple lives would happen.Tyrese McCleanNo one envisaged an accident that would plunge the entire community into a state of shock and disbelief, and change the lives of ten families forever.Described as the most horrific tragedy to have occurred in Linden after the Sun Chapman, the accident at Amelia’s Ward Hill that claimed the lives of ten citizens of this relatively quiet mining community one year ago is still fresh in the minds of most Lindeners.And for the relatives of those who perished, it was without a doubt their worst nightmare!According to a 10-year-old who miraculously escaped death, after he was flung under a seat when the bus slammed into the loaded timber truck, he only realized that something terrible had happened after he heard such anguished cries as, “Oh God, not now, please!” and “Oh God, a gon dead.”Luckily, that little boy had been sitting at the back of the bus and had escaped with minor injuries. He was the only person to have gotten out of the bus unaided. The others were not so lucky.Two women who were in the front seat bore the brunt of the terrible impact, as the huge logs demolished the front of the bus, dismembering them in the process.Their mutilated bodies, which were later crudely packed into the back of a police van and taken to the Mackenzie Hospital Complex, drew tears from all who saw them.Florence CummingsTheir employer, Joseph Barnes, of Barnes Variety Store, wailed in anguish at the grotesque sight. The other women had been reduced to tears.According to the mother of the driver of the ill-fated bus, Ruby Lewis, her two sons — Paul and Mark — had left for work as usual that morning. Paul was the conductor of the bus, while his brother was the driver.At about 19:00 hours, the young men decided to call it a day and go home, with a full complement of passengers all bound for Amelia’s Ward.“We were waiting on them, but they never came home that night!” Ruby Lewis reminisced sadly.“If it wasn’t for my faith in God, I don’t know what would have happened. I don’t think I would have been able to keep going.”Lewis said that it has been really hard on her since the accident, which took the life of her youngest, Paul.Carl McCalmonHis brother, though fortunate to have escaped with his life, however had to face the wrath of the people and the court.A devout Christian, Lewis said that she was surprised at the attitude of many persons after the accident. It was as if they had forgotten that she, too, had suffered a great loss.Nadia Cummings, a sister of Florence Cummings who also perished that day, related: “Not a day goes by that I don’t think of her. We were very close. We had lost our mother when we were very young, and another sister later,NFL Stitched Jerseys, so we were really, really close.And at the time she was the sole breadwinner in the home.“She was so loving; she would always call me from work to find out whether I had eaten, or what I was doing.“I remember the day she died. The last thing I did was to zip up her dress before she left for work.”Nadia said that her sister’s son, Jemel, now lives with her, and she can’t help but worry about him, as he dreams of his mother frequently and would cry out in his sleep. He is now 15.Elaine LashleyPaula Adams, a sister of Evelyn Adams, reminisced: “At first I was shocked, traumatised and really sad, but now God has given me strength.“Evelyn was my baby sister, and she was the closest relative to have died in our family, as both our parents are still alive.“Right now, it is really tough without her, because she used to really assist me with mom and dad. She and my daughter, Onecia, were also really close, as Evelyn used to take care of her.”Paula said that her daughter, Onecia, still cries a lot, even after a year has elapsed, as she was very close to her aunt Evelyn.“The Sunday before the accident the two of them went to church,Wholesale NBA Jerseys China, and then Evelyn spent the remainder of the day with us.”Evelyn’s 21-year-old son,China Jerseys, Edward, currently lives with Paula, who said that she knows her nephew still grieves for his mother.Carl Austin’s reputed wife, Monica Omar, was almost eight months pregnant when his life was so tragically cut short that terrible October day.Carl was a conductor, and was returning home on the bus after work.He never made it home, and thus never got the opportunity to see his first child, who was born six