The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

WORKERS at the Freeport Container Port are devastated by the death of their employee relations manager Lisa Gibson, who was killed in a traffic accident on Queen’s Highway on Thursday evening.

A female teenager, believed to be Vanna Joseph, of Eight Mile Rock, a passenger in Mrs Gibson’s Jaguar as they made their way to choir practice, is detained in the Intensive Care Unit at Rand Memorial Hospital. Her injuries are said to be very serious.

Mrs Gibson had been employed at the container port for about 10 years. A fellow employee told the Big T yesterday that people were taking the news very hard. “She worked in our human resources department and she was a cheerful person. She was nice and always smiling. She was also very thoughtful, the kind of person who would call you if you were sick to check on you to see if you were okay, to say hello, and cheer you up,” said the employee.

Mrs Gibson leaves a husband and a son. A number of family members, friends and members of the church she attended rushed to the hospital after learning of the accident, which happened around 5pm near Paradise Cove in Holmes Rock.

Mrs Gibson was president of the youth ministry at Mt Zion Baptist Church in Eight Mile Rock. She was picking up people for choir practice that evening. She had already picked up Ms Joseph and was on her way to collect some more when the accident occurred.

Donna Jones said the church is saddened by the tragedy. “We were at the church for choir practice and were shocked when we got the news,” she said. She said Mrs Gibson has a “bubbly” personality. “She was a very lively person who always greeted you with a pleasant smile,” Mrs Jones said.

“I was numb and speechless. It seems so unreal, and the teen was also active in the church. We are praying for both of their families,” she said.

According to police reports, the accident involved a collision between 2002 Buick Century and a silver Jaguar. Both vehicles were extensively damaged. Supt Wendell Smith reported that three people had been injured and one woman had succumbed at the scene. The male driver and a woman passenger of the Buick received minor injuries and were transported to the Rand Memorial Hospital by EMS personnel.

Police have not released the identities of the victims and investigations are continuing.