17-y-o dies after vehicle plunges into Rio Cobre, two other teens rescued

Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) divers today recovered the body of a 17-year-old boy who went missing after the vehicle he was driving plunged into the Rio Cobre in St Catherine late Monday night.

He has been identified as Oshene Darby of a Kingston address.

According to the police, he would have celebrated his 18th birthday today.

Reports indicate that about 11:40 p.m., Darby was driving a Toyota Hiace motor truck with two other teenagers aboard along the Bog Walk Gorge when he reportedly lost control of the vehicle.

The vehicle veered off the roadway and plunged into the river.

The two teen passengers were rescued by divers from the community, who responded quickly to the scene.

They were pulled from the water alive, but Darby had not been seen since the incident.

Divers in the area and first responders, including JDF divers, went to the scene this morning to carry out a search, during which the body was found.

Head of the St Catherine North Police Division, Senior Superintendent Hopeton Nicholson, stated that preliminary investigations revealed that Darby did not possess a driver’s licence and that the vehicle was taken without the owner’s consent.

Police say investigations into the incident are ongoing.

- Ruddy Mathison

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