Two Lives Lost in Tragic Early Morning Crash Near Chedwin Park, Spanish Town
SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine — A devastating early morning collision has left two families in mourning after a deadly crash claimed the lives of 44-year-old Carlos Pryce of Burnside Valley, Red Hills, St. Andrew, and 26-year-old Shandee Williams of Westmoreland on Monday, July 1, 2025.
The tragic incident occurred around 5:00 a.m. along Old Harbour Road, in the vicinity of Chedwin Park, a bustling stretch often used by early commuters and morning travelers. According to preliminary reports, Pryce was operating a 2005 grey Honda Fit, while Williams was driving a 2012 grey Nissan Altima when the vehicles collided under still unclear circumstances.
The impact of the collision was severe, leaving both vehicles mangled beyond recognition and trapping the drivers inside the twisted metal. Eyewitnesses report hearing a loud crash followed by a brief silence before bystanders rushed to the scene. Emergency responders from the Spanish Town Fire Department and Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) arrived shortly afterward and worked diligently to extricate the victims from the wreckage.
Despite their efforts, both Pryce and Williams were pronounced dead on arrival at the Spanish Town Hospital, leaving behind shocked loved ones and unanswered questions.
The Accident Investigation and Reconstruction Unit (AIRU) of the JCF has since launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash. Officers processed the scene and collected forensic evidence, including roadway measurements, vehicle positions, and any mechanical irregularities that could help reconstruct the tragic event. The wrecked vehicles were later removed and taken into police custody for further examination.
Residents and motorists familiar with the area say Old Harbour Road, particularly near the Chedwin Park corridor, is known for high-speed driving and early-morning traffic congestion, often creating dangerous conditions for road users. This latest crash reignites long-standing concerns about road safety and the need for improved traffic enforcement and infrastructure in the area.
Friends and family of the victims are struggling to come to terms with the sudden and heartbreaking loss.
Carlos Pryce, known to friends as a hardworking and kind-hearted man, was reportedly heading to work when the crash occurred. A father and community-oriented figure, his death has left a significant void among his loved ones in Burnside Valley.
Shandee Williams, just 26 years old, was remembered as ambitious, cheerful, and full of life. Her friends describe her as a rising star with dreams of building a brighter future. Her death, coming at such a young age, has sent shockwaves through her community in Westmoreland.
“This is just heartbreaking,” said a local resident who arrived shortly after the crash. “Two people gone just like that. We need more patrols in this area and people need to slow down.”
The crash marks yet another fatal incident on Jamaica’s roads, which continue to see a troubling number of collisions resulting in death or serious injury. According to recent data from the Road Safety Unit (RSU), more than 200 people have lost their lives on Jamaican roads in the first half of 2025—a figure that underscores the urgent need for national dialogue and intervention around road safety practices.
As investigations continue, authorities are urging witnesses or anyone who may have seen the moments leading up to the crash to come forward. Information can be reported to the Spanish Town Police or submitted anonymously to Crime Stop at 311.
Meanwhile, two families now face a lifetime of grief and unanswered questions.
The community around Old Harbour Road mourns not only the loss of two individuals, but also the larger toll of reckless driving and insufficient traffic control—a danger that continues to claim lives on Jamaica’s roads far too often.
