Driver cites medical issue in crash that killed woman in Spanish Town
Published:Friday | March 20, 2026 | 9:44 PM
A lawyer representing a taxi operator told a court on Friday that a medical episode was behind a crash that left a pedestrian dead in Spanish Town, St Catherine, on Saturday.
The disclosure was made as taxi operator, Shelton Johnson, 47, appeared in the St Catherine Parish Court. He was granted $500,000 bail on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
The deceased has been identified as 54-year-old Janet Wilson, a resident of Jobs Lane, Spanish Town, St Catherine.
Attorney-at-Law Priscilla Jennings, in making a successful bail application, told the court the crash was linked to a medical issue.
“Your honour he said that he was driving and felt his leg rigid on the pedal and he couldn't remove it and that is when he crashed,” Jennings said.
She added that Johnson had visited a doctor about a month earlier for the symptom but was cleared to drive.
Senior Parish Court Judge Desiree Alleyne granted bail in the sum of $500,000 with surety, on condition that Johnson does not drive any motor vehicle.
He is to report to the Frankfield police and return to court on June 23.
Allegations are that about 3:02 pm on Saturday, March 14, Wilson was walking along Young Street in Spanish Town with another woman when they were hit by a speeding 2019 AD Wagon motor car driven by Johnson.
The impact reportedly threw Wilson more than 12 metres through an ackee tree, through a zinc fence, and into a premises.
Wilson and other injured persons, including passengers in the vehicle, were taken to the Spanish Town Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Others were treated.
Johnson was charged on Monday.
- Rasbert Turner
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