Two men in their thirties were in the vehicle that crashed and burst into flames near Royalton Hideaway Resort in Trelawny.
Police released the identities of the victims, one of whom is Romeo Everton Robinson, a 33-year-old resident of Whitesands in Cambridge, St James. The other victim is confirmed to be 36-year-old Kenrick Anthony Dove. Dove is also from St James but lives in Bogue Village.
A report says the crash occurred along the North Coast Highway on Sunday night. The two men were travelling in a white Mercedes-Benz motorcar. Robinson was the driver, while Dove sat in the passenger’s seat. Around 9:45 p.m., they were driving along a section of the Cooper’s Pen Main Road when they crashed, according to the report.
The vehicle, based on photos, drove off the road and came to a stop near the resort’s sign. It reportedly exploded when it stopped, burning the two men inside. The occupants died at the scene.
Emergency responders were called to the scene, and firefighters extinguished the flames. The bodies were later removed from the wreckage. Officials reported that investigators are still probing the deadly crash.
Based on an initial assessment of the scene, investigators at the time of the incident believe several factors may have contributed to the crash. Early findings suggest the vehicle may have been travelling at high speed before the driver lost control, per the report. Officials also pointed to what appeared to be a lapse in judgment or negligent behaviour, though they emphasised that the investigation is ongoing and conclusions are not yet final.
Video footage captured the burning vehicle, while images after the incident show the car was reduced to a burnt shell and the resort sign was visibly scorched by the flames. One photo also includes a close-up image of one of the charred victims.