Seven die in Trelawny crash; suspects charged in Kingston taxi shooting

Seven people were killed and one left critically hurt on Friday when a minibus and a Hino box truck collided on the Falmouth to Salt Marsh road in Trelawny shortly before 8:00 a.m., less than a mile from where five taxi operators died in a crash on July 6, 2025.

All three people in the box truck died. The bus driver was the only survivor. Identities had not been released at press time. Emergency crews from the Falmouth Fire Department, alerted at about 7:55 a.m., had to cut occupants from both wrecks — a Toyota Regius bus and the Hino truck — amid debris across the busy roadway.

An employer at the hospital said the bus passengers were construction workers from St. James heading to a St. Ann worksite. "Is my workers them?" he said. "Please respect my privacy. I can't do an interview now. You see, I'm crying."

Acting Assistant Commissioner Roland Walters of the Jamaica Fire Brigade's Area 2 said nearly everyone in the vehicles died. Senior Superintendent Lloyd Derby of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch said early findings pointed to improper overtaking and driver error, not road conditions. Transport Minister Daryl Vaz urged greater discipline behind the wheel. Dr. Lucien Jones, vice chairman of the National Road Safety Council, said June and July remain especially deadly and called for full rollout of the Road Traffic Act.

Police said Jamaica had recorded 166 road deaths by 6:00 a.m. Friday, against 27 in the same period last year. Trelawny's toll stood at 21 so far this year, compared with 15 a year earlier.

In Kingston, 18-year-olds Rahheem Dunningham of Wildman Street and Jaden Winter of Rumble Lane, plus a minor, were charged after a taxi operator was shot on Duke Street on June 23. Central Police said the three posed as passengers about 1:30 p.m.; the driver then felt a blast and burning to the right side of his chest, lost control and hit a parked vehicle. The suspects fled on foot. The victim was admitted to hospital. The three face charges of possession of a prohibited weapon, wounding with intent and using a firearm to commit a felony, and are due in Gun Court on Friday, July 24.

Also in Kingston, 37-year-old O'Neil White of Tower Avenue, Olympic Way, Kingston 11, was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle and malicious injury to property over a Toyota Fielder taken from Cartina Avenue, Kingston 13, between 9:00 p.m. on July 9 and 2:00 a.m. on July 10. The car was recovered; St. Andrew South officers arrested White on July 12. His court date is being set.

In Westmoreland, 32-year-old farmer Daviian Bailey of Amity District was charged over a motorcycle theft on June 20. Savanna-la-Mar police said he asked about 7:00 a.m. to borrow a bike valued at about $100,000; when refused, he accepted a lift, then rode off after a roadside stop. His court date is being finalised.

In St. James Parish Court, Judge Aesa Grant Price heard that Jordan Campbell faces unlawful wounding after a May 26 dispute at a Montego Bay car wash over $2,000 allegedly missing from his vehicle. Allegations say the clash turned violent — a vacuum cleaner smashed, a board used on Campbell's car, then a knife. On Wednesday the case went to mediation; the parties agreed terms, with mention set for September 2 when Campbell is to pay an agreed sum. Bail was extended.