Nigel Clarke’s bodyguard perishes in crash
Published:Friday | June 25, 2021 | 12:14 AMHopeton Bucknor/Gleaner Writer
The close-protection officer assigned to Minister of Finance Dr Nigel Clarke lost his life in a three-vehicle collision along the Coopers Pen main road in Trelawny yesterday afternoon.
He has been identified as Sergeant Marlon Smith, who was assigned to the Protective Services arm of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
Reports by the Trelawny police are that shortly after 5:30 p.m., Smith was travelling at the head of the minister’s convoy that was heading from Kingston to Montego Bay.
On reaching a section of the Coopers Pen main road, he allegedly lost control of the vehicle, which collided with a Honda CR-V and then crashed into a flatbed trailer, which was hauling heavy-construction equipment.
The impact of the crash sent Smith’s vehicle off the roadway, into bushes, before bursting into flames.
The fire department and the police were summoned and Smith’s charred remains were later removed from the burnt vehicle.
Two persons, who were travelling in the Honda CR-V, were transported to the Falmouth Hospital for medical attention.
Smith was considered to be a veteran in his department and had also served as a close-protection officer to former Cabinet Minister Derrick Smith.