The St. Catherine taxi operator involved in the deadly Spanish Town crash, which allegations say was caused by spiritual forces, has been charged. The driver, Shelton Johnson, was booked into jail under the offence of causing death by dangerous driving.
The incident last Saturday left a woman dead after the taxi struck her and another young woman. According to circulating information at the time, it was alleged that the deceased was the other female’s mother.
Official updates have now identified the deceased as 54-year-old Janet Wilson, but there is no mention of her being related to the survivor. Wilson was unemployed and lived at Jobs Lane in Spanish Town.
Reports say that Wilson was killed on March 14 around 3:02 p.m. while she was walking along Young Street with another female. An approaching taxi, identified as a 2019 AD Wagon, was driving fast when it crashed into both women.
Reports say Wilson was tossed more than 12 meters from the point of impact. She struck a zinc fence and an ackee tree before landing in a resident’s yard nearby. The car did not stop until it slammed into a concrete wall and a parked Mazda Premacy.
A resident filmed the disturbing aftermath of the incident with Wilson’s disfigured body lying in the yard. Johnson was also caught in the video as angry residents hit him.
Wilson, the woman she was walking with, and multiple passengers from the taxi were all transported to the Spanish Town Hospital. Wilson was pronounced dead, while the others were treated.
Following the incident, Johnson was arrested, and a question-and-answer session was conducted on Monday, resulting in the formal laying of charges against him. While it is unclear what Johnson told the police, there were suspicious rumours regarding the cause of the accident.
It was alleged that Johnson had told the residents that he was attacked by an evil spirit that came from the funeral home, which was reportedly near the scene of the crash. People close to the incident said that Johnson reportedly seemed possessed after the crash, and he was not immediately aware of the disaster. They also claimed Johnson alleged that the evil spirits were in control of the vehicle and were talking to him.