Police have identified the Jamaica Defence Force soldier killed in a motor vehicle accident in Kingston, this morning.
Dead is 31 year-old Captain, Blake James Roper, otherwise called Jah Ropes, of Oakfield Crescent, Kingston 6.
The constabulary communications unit reported that about 1:00 a.m., Roper was travelling along the Palisadoes main road, when upon reaching the Harbour View round-a-bout, he failed to negotiate a curve, and the vehicle collided with a concrete flower bed.
The police and fire brigade were contacted, and emergency responders removed an unresponsive Roper, from the mangled wreck.
Roper was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Meantime, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has been plunged into morning, following the death of Captain Roper.
The JDF said the untimely loss comes as a tragedy for the family of Captain Roper, his friends and the force.
Captain Roper was an 8 year member of the JDF, who served in the maritime air and cyber command, and was a recipient of the medal of honour for general service with clasp.
He was the son of Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Geoffrey Roper, the longest serving commanding officer of the JDF air wing.
In reacting to the captain’s death, Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman, said the loss leaves a void within the JDF family.
She noted that Roper contributed significantly to safeguarding the nation’s security, and embodied the finest qualities of bravery, selflessness and sacrifice.
And, Opposition Leader Mark Golding, who is a friend of the Roper family, said Blake was a highly professional and dedicated young member of the JDF, with a bright future ahead of him.
Golding said Roper was also a keen guitarist, whose company he enjoyed as part of the Christmas carols singers, over the years.