Munro teacher killed in St Elizabeth drag racing

The St Elizabeth Police say they will be moving to increase their presence along the Nain to Gutters main road as they probe the staging of illegal drag races on weekends along the corridor.

A man died from a crash during an illegal drag race, in the vicinity of the entrance to the New Building community, on Sunday night. 

The deceased has been identified as Jason Palmer, an auto mechanic and a teacher at Munro College in the parish.

Residents of the area where the crash occurred are tight-lipped about the incident which claimed the life of Palmer who is also the President of the Elette Driving Club in the parish.

The Gleaner was informed that Palmer and others were engaged in drag racing when the crash occurred.

The Gleaner was also informed that the crash was not reported to the nearby Nain Police until sometime on Monday after persons reportedly cleared evidence of the illegal activity from the roadway.

Councillor for the Myersville Division Layton Smith said for several years he has been calling for a special police patrol late at nights along that section of the road.

"I have made several reports to the leadership of the St Elizabeth police on this illegal activity along the roadway on weekends, but, to date, nothing has happened and now we have had the ultimate, a fatal accident," Smith said.

In January, the St Elizabeth Police banned the staging of motorcar and motorbike shows following incidents where patrons attending these functions were injured.

Since then, there have been slight adjustments to the ban.

However, despite the restriction, unauthorised drag shows have continued.

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