Man who mowed down firefighter pleads guilty

Hortliff Thomas, the driver who mowed down a firefighter in Ocho Rios, St Ann, two years ago, pleaded guilty in the St Ann Circuit Court late last week.

Thomas, a carpenter, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving in the death of Larenzo Douse of the Ocho Rios Fire Station. Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1. Reports are that about 2:40 p.m., on November 30, 2022, members of the St Ann Fire Brigade were responding to a fire near the Reynolds Cruise Shipping Pier along the Ocho Rios main road. Thomas reportedly overtook a line of traffic and lost control of the vehicle, which slammed into the fire truck pinning Douse to the truck's body. The car then burst into flames. Frantic attempts were made to remove the pinned Douse. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Thomas, who had also suffered injuries, was arrested. Following an interview, he was charged.

The Ocho Rios Fire Station was renamed the Larenzo Garnet Douse Memorial Building in the firefighter's honour.