A 27-year-old Jamaican living in Florida lost his life in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash while allegedly attempting to outrun state troopers. The deceased, identified as Craig Thomas, died while riding a red Suzuki sports bike along Front Beach main road on Saturday.
According to reports, the Lawrence Tavern native from the Goldbourn district of St Andrew was travelling along the route when troopers signalled for a traffic stop just before midnight. Rather than pull over, Thomas reportedly accelerated away and tried to escape the police. Reports say the bike veered off course, and he was violently thrown to the pavement.
When troopers arrived on the scene, they attempted to assist Thomas by providing first aid. Shortly after, Bay County EMS and Panama City Beach Fire Rescue arrived, which was when the troopers stopped their efforts to allow other professionals to take over. However, despite their efforts, Thomas was pronounced dead at the crash site.
Documents obtained by The Gleaner reveal that last November, Thomas faced a misdemeanour arrest in the U.S., per a report. A source told the local news outlet that Thomas had multiple minor charges, including marijuana possession.
The source said that Thomas was jailed last year for the charges. The source also suggested he did not comply with the officer on Saturday because he feared further encounters with law enforcement, especially the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, amid heightened deportation operations. Individuals who personally know Thomas also confirmed this claim.
A former student at Oberlin High School, Thomas leaves behind friends and family still grappling with shock. One acquaintance described the heartbreaking experience of driving past the outskirts of the crash scene and seeing Thomas’s body covered by a white sheet for hours before authorities recovered him. Florida police have opened an investigation into the circumstances leading up to the crash.