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Key Takeaways
- Four teens died in a three-car collision in Ocho Rios; they were Shantana Leonard, Kenneil Lyle, Marcodine Maxwell, and Rajani Abdul.
- The crash involved two Mercedes-Benz cars that fled the scene after removing their license plates.
- Police report that the luxury cars were speeding and collided with a Toyota carrying the teens, pushing it into oncoming traffic.
- Law enforcement is investigating and appealing for public assistance to identify the fleeing drivers.
- In another case, Horace Haughton, a con man, pleaded guilty to defrauding more than 200 people of more than $7 million by offering fake job opportunities.
The police have identified the four teens who died in a three-car collision in Ocho Rios, St Ann, early Saturday morning.
Law enforcement also shared that the occupants of the two Mercedes-Benz motor cars involved in the crash had removed their license plates. Then, they fled the scene.
Sadly, those killed are Shantana Leonard, 17, a student of Brown’s Town High School, in St Ann; Kenneil Lyle, 16, a student of Iona High School, in St Mary; and Marcodine Maxwell, 16, a student of Oracabessa High School, in St Mary. Rajani Abdul, who also attended Oracabessa High, was also killed.
Lyle, Maxwell and Abdul were passengers in the third car involved in the crash. Leonard was the driver of that vehicle, according to the police.
The Ocho Rios police report that two Mercedes-Benz vehicles were traveling at a very high speed along DaCosta Drive. One of the luxury cars then attempted to overtake the other.
As it did so, it veered into the path of a Toyota car carrying teenagers, which was traveling in the opposite direction. This resulted in a collision with the Toyota’s left-front section, pushing it into the right lane.
Subsequently, the other Mercedes-Benz collided with the left side of the Toyota, causing significant damage to all vehicles involved. A police official reported that passengers in all the vehicles sustained serious injuries.
Tragically, the teenagers later died at the hospital.
The Ocho Rios police have initiated an investigation and a search to identify the drivers of two luxury cars who fled the scene of the accident. Furthermore, they are appealing to the public for any information that could help in this matter. If anyone has details that could assist the investigation, they are encouraged to come forward.
Serial ConMan Guilty After $7M Jamaica Job Scam Hurt 200+
A professional con man who tricked more than 200 desperate Jamaicans out of over $7 million by promising them US employment has pleaded guilty on 14 counts of receiving money by trick.
Horace Haughton, 52, also known as ‘Dr Perez’ or ‘Dr Maddison’, of no fixed address, appeared before Justice Leighton Pusey in the Home Circuit Court in Kingston. This appearance was on Wednesday, October 28.
Haughton, who has previous convictions for fraud crimes, also pleaded guilty to being a repeat offender.
The judge has remanded Haughton until January 15, 2027, when the court hands down a sentence.
In January, investigators arrested Haughton in St. Andrew with the assistance of the JamaicaEye camera system. His arrest followed investigations done by detectives from the former Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigation Branch. Additionally, the Half-Way Tree police assisted with these investigations.
The authorities alleged that, between August and October 2025, Haughton and an associate, Sharlene Edwards, allegedly ran an illegal business. Through this scheme, they lured more than 200 clients for US employment.
Investigators said clients allegedly paid the illegal business more than $7 million for offers of US jobs that never materialized.
Once the victims realized that Haughton’s employment offers were fake, they reported the matter to the police.
The police arrested Haughton’s associate, Sharlene Edwards, in November 2026. She is awaiting trial on fraud charges.