The ill-fated trailer that crashed along the Bog Walk gorge yesterday after being hijacked by two men. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
TOOTING HORNS, flashing headlights and words of admiration were in order for a trailer driver who foiled a robbery by two thugs who demanded the 1,000 bags of cement that he was transporting.
He fought off the hoodlums who reportedly had fired shots in an attempt to get hold of the vehicle, which plunged into the Rio Cobre, crushing one of the robbers to death while injuring the other.
The dead man has been identified as Lloyd Anthony Donegal, 22-year-old labourer of 74 Old Harbour Road, St Catherine. His accomplice is 18-year-old Sean Cox, also of an Old Harbour Road address.
When The Sunday Gleaner visited the scene, the ill-fated Freightliner, with a portion of its cargo, was perched precariously on stones in the riverbed.
A number of residents expressed their satisfaction on how the incident ended.
"Yes, this seemed like justice to me. Young men who do no work should not be paid, unless it is a price for not working. Them need to have more of these lessons," said Michael Benson, a passing motorist.
Should be rewarded
Others said they were very glad that the driver of the vehicle escaped with minor injuries and that he should be rewarded for bravery
According to Detective Sergeant Leroy Guy of the Bog Walk Police Station, about 12:30 a.m. yesterday, the trailer, laden with 1,000 bags of cement was travelling from Kingston to Montego Bay, St James.
When the rig reached Flat Bridge, Donegal and Cox hopped on to it. They climbed into the cab, where one of them ordered the driver to stop, but he refused.
One of the men brandished a gun. The brave driver resisted. Both men tussled for the steering wheel and eventually, the vehicle plunged into the river, crushing Donegal.
The investigators, who were still searching for the gun while The Sunday Gleaner was on the spot, said a number of delivery trucks had been robbed in the parish and that checks would be conducted to see if the incidents were connected.