UPDATE: Sixth person dies in Rio Cobre crash, under-water search on for seventh victim

Jodi-Ann Gilpin, Gleaner Writer

The number of people killed in this morning’s crash at Flat Bridge in St Catherine has increased to six.

In the meantime, police and residents are searching for a seventh person who was in the vehicle Suzuki Vitara which plunged into the Rio Cobre around 1 o'clock this morning.

One man, a 19-year-old, was rescued and is now in hospital.

Five of the six deceased have been identified.

They are:
Stephen Ricketts
Shevaughnie Ricketts
Sujay Ricketts
Benjamin Ellis 
Shantel Morris

The body of the sixth victim was removed from the Rio Cobre a short while ago and is still unidentified.

Investigators say it appears the victims drowned before help could reach them.

According to the police, the Vitara, with eight people aboard, was travelling towards Bog Walk when the driver lost control of the vehicle and ran off the road into the river.

This is the second crash this week with multiple fatalities.

Four persons were killed following a minibus crash along Highway 2000 on Wednesday night.

This morning’s crash has pushed to 213, the number of persons killed on the nation’s roadways this year.