Crashes, court charges and police probes reported across Jamaica

Police are dealing with several major incidents across Jamaica, including two road crashes, child sexual offence allegations, a firearm-related confrontation and a St. James court matter tied to unpaid drug proceeds.

In Manchester, two men were admitted to hospital after a truck carrying rice crashed on the Spur Tree Hill main road on Saturday. Police reports indicate the vehicle went out of control shortly after 4:00 p.m., left the road, entered a property and overturned. A passenger lost his right arm and was listed in critical condition. The driver was also hospitalised. After the crash, people reportedly removed several bags of rice from the overturned truck.

In Clarendon, 22-year-old welder Kevin Baker of Havana Heights died after his Zamco 200 motorcycle hit a police service vehicle on Byrd Avenue in Denbigh about 2:10 a.m. Saturday. A 20-year-old female pillion passenger was admitted in serious condition. Police said the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had been placed for stop-and-search duties when Baker began riding erratically and collided with it. The Area Three Accident Reconstruction Unit processed the scene, while the May Pen Traffic Department is investigating.

In Portmore, St. Catherine, a 59-year-old man has been charged in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl. Police said Portmore Quick Response officers on patrol along Port Henderson Road about 8:30 p.m. Thursday saw a Toyota Wish parked on the roadside and later found the child with the suspect. His name is being withheld to protect the complainant.

In Portland, a 78-year-old licensed firearm holder has been charged with assault at common law and using a firearm to commit a scheduled offence. Police said the case stems from an alleged May 23 confrontation in which a man was threatened and a licensed gun was pressed against his side.

In St. James, Orville Miller, convicted in 2014 of cocaine-related offences, has indicated he would serve prison time instead of paying an $11.8 million pecuniary penalty order. His case returns to court on June 29.