ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — A morning commute turned fatal on Wednesday when 58-year-old Garfield Batts lost his life in a devastating crash along the treacherous stretch of the Bog Walk Gorge.
Batts, a seasoned mechanical engineer and resident of Rose Drive in Green Acres, Spanish Town, was behind the wheel of his Nissan Frontier when the vehicle veered off the roadway and plunged into the depths of the Rio Cobre.
Emergency responders from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) were dispatched just after 6:30 a.m. Despite a swift search and the recovery of the submerged vehicle, Batts could not be saved.
He was transported to hospital but was later pronounced dead.
The incident has once again raised concerns over the safety of the Gorge, which has long been plagued by accidents—especially during early hours when visibility and road conditions remain uncertain.
Investigations are ongoing.
