The driver of a taxi that crashed into a truck killing 5 people in Westmoreland 2 years ago, was sentenced yesterday to 18 months imprisonment.

The sentence for 47 year old Delroy Rodney, is suspended for 3 years.

Meantime, the Westmoreland Circuit Court has ordered Rodney to pay about $2.5 million in restitution.

He is to give the relatives of the 5 crash victims, $500,000 each.

Payment must be made by March 31.

Rodney pleaded guilty to 5 counts of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving.

Those killed in the crash are, 15-year-old student Lavecia Forrester and her 39-year-old mother, Petrina Wallace; Oneil Allen, and his mother, 65-year-old Angela Samuel, as well as 54-year-old Janet Thompson.

Reports are that in November 2023, 6 passengers were aboard a grey Toyota Noah , driven by Rodney, along the Bluefields Main Road, when the taxi collided with a truck, being driven in the opposite direction.

The injured persons were taken to hospital where 5 of the passengers were pronounced dead.

Rodney was arrested and charged.