Police reviewing footage of deadly Ocho Rios crash

Police investigators have obtained footage of the crash that claimed the lives of four teenagers in Ocho Rios, St Ann, on Saturday, as they work to determine responsibility for the deadly three-vehicle collision.

Senior Superintendent Carlos Russell, head of the St Ann Police Division, said the footage was being examined as investigators continued interviewing the two drivers of the Mercedes-Benz motor cars involved.

He said the men were friends but cautioned that the police were not yet in a position to say what charges, if any, would be laid.

"We have to wait until the investigation finishes because the footage would have to be reviewed and then we look at who was at fault and all of that. Then we will decide how we are going about charging persons," Russell said, confirming reports that the two men had turned themselves in to the Ocho Rios Police Station on Monday.

They were accompanied by their attorneys.

The police had previously reported that the occupants of the two Mercedes-Benz vehicles removed their registration plates and fled the scene after the collision.

The crash occurred about 2:30 a.m. along the Bull Point main road, near Fisherman's Beach and the entrance to Columbus Heights.

According to the police account, the two Mercedes-Benz vehicles were travelling at high speed when one attempted to overtake the other and collided with a Toyota Vitz travelling in the opposite direction.

The impact forced the Toyota into the path of the second Mercedes-Benz, which also struck it.

The four teenagers killed were identified as Shantana Leonard, 17, of Brown's Town High School; Kenneil Lyle, 16, of Iona High School; and Marcodine Maxwell, 16, and Rajani Abdul, both of Oracabessa High School.

Leonard was driving the Toyota, while the other three teenagers were passengers.

Russell said it would also be difficult to establish whether the drivers were under the influence of alcohol because of the time that had elapsed since the crash.

He also criticised what he described as a pattern of careless driving, particularly on sections of roadway where motorists have more room to accelerate.

"Jamaican drivers, most of them, just drive carelessly on the road. Once they see some road, they start speeding," he said.

Russell pointed to Llandovery, Queen's Highway and Bull Point as areas where motorists tend to take advantage of wider sections of roadway to speed.

The deaths have drawn renewed attention to road safety, with the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information announcing that support teams would be deployed to the affected schools to assist students and staff.

- Corey Robinson

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