Detectives tie Williamsfield highway deaths to Red Bank break-in

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Detectives in Manchester and St Elizabeth are piecing together a sequence of events they say connects a Saturday crash on the Williamsfield section of Highway 2000 to a break-in at a business in Red Bank, near Junction in St Elizabeth.

Investigators suspect a Toyota Noah that erupted in flames in the wee hours, killing both people aboard, was the escape vehicle used by robbers who targeted the St Elizabeth establishment. Stolen items reportedly included $1.5 million in cash, a quantity of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, phone cards valued at $2.5 million, a cash register, and other valuables.

Police sources said a highway patrol team tried to stop the vehicle on the eastbound lane of the Williamsfield Highway. The driver refused to comply, lost control, and crashed. The two occupants were burned so badly they could not be identified.