Elderly Man Drowns After Bus Plunges Into Rio Cobre

Bog Walk, St Catherine — A 65-year-old man is believed to have drowned after the vehicle he was driving veered off Flat Bridge and plunged into the Rio Cobre late Sunday night.

The deceased has been identified as Noel Patterson, a resident of Portmore, St Catherine.

According to the police, the incident occurred around 10:41 p.m. as Patterson was reportedly driving a Toyota Hiace bus from the direction of Bog Walk toward Spanish Town. He is believed to have been the sole occupant of the vehicle.

Emergency services were alerted after the bus went off the roadway and into the river. Residents in the area reportedly rushed to the scene and managed to pull Patterson from the submerged vehicle. However, despite their efforts to resuscitate him, he was unresponsive.

Patterson was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing. Authorities have not yet determined what caused the vehicle to leave the road, but the Bog Walk Gorge and Flat Bridge are known for their narrow, winding conditions, especially dangerous during nighttime or poor weather.