Fatal St. Elizabeth crash, South Camp Road blast and Trelawny theft charges lead Jamaica roundup

A 45-year-old chef died and several other people were hurt Tuesday night after two vehicles crashed on Paramin Road in St. Elizabeth, while separate incidents in St. Andrew and Trelawny left four people hospitalised and five men before the courts.

The crash victim has been named as Ron Wright of Fraser's district, New Market, St. Elizabeth. Police reports say the collision happened about 9:15 p.m. when a grey Toyota Coaster bus travelling from Montego Bay to Santa Cruz and a white Nissan AD Wagon driven by Wright collided after the wagon entered Paramin Road from a side road. Six people, including both drivers, were taken to Black River Hospital. Firefighters had to free the trapped drivers, and Wright later died.

In St. Andrew, at least four people were carried to hospital Wednesday after an explosion at a South Camp Road garage. The Jamaica Fire Brigade said it was called shortly before 9 a.m. and reported that welding had been done on a motor truck before the blast. Police said four vehicles were affected, three heavily and one slightly. The extent of the injuries was not released, and investigators said foul play was not suspected.

Trelawny police have charged five men over an alleged organised theft network accused of targeting businesses between December 5, 2025, and April 11, 2026, with losses in goods and cash exceeding $20 million. Charged are Cardel Williams, 47; Decaul Clover Lewis, 39, a shopkeeper of Windsor Road, St. Ann's Bay; Franklin Cross, 46, of Norwood, St. James; Omar Anthony Coleman, 33, of Coral Gardens, Montego Bay; and Randy Murray, 40, of Farm Pen, Westmoreland. Police said the men were intercepted on April 11 with goods and Jamaican, United States, Canadian and British currency.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said Jamaica expects movement within one to two months under a memorandum of understanding with Ghana to recruit healthcare workers for shortage areas. He said Jamaica has similar arrangements involving the Philippines, India, Nigeria and Ghana, and that screening and recruitment are to begin in specialised areas.

Opposition spokesman on national security Fitz Jackson criticised the Government's position that police body-worn camera use is an operational matter for the commissioner, saying the People's National Party supports mandatory use in planned Jamaica Constabulary Force operations.

In downtown Kingston, KSAMC city engineer Xavier Chevannes said the municipality is working with police to remove tarpaulins that block security cameras, clear debris, clean drains and keep vending areas sanitary, including on New Chapel Lane and inside market areas.