Five persons are dead, while several others are in hospital with serious injuries following a motor vehicle crash along the PJ Patterson Highway in St. Catherine this afternoon.

The identities of those killed are being withheld pending notification to next of kin.

Head of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dr. Gary McKenzie said the crash happened at about 3:00 P.M. at Sharper Lane near Old Harbour.

Reports are that the driver of a Toyota Hiace bus lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road then overturned in a ditch.

The police were summoned and the 20 injured occupants of the bus were taken to hospital.

Meantime, Chairman of the National Road Safety Council ( NRSC) is reporting that 9 persons, including a child are hospitalised.