PORTLAND, Jamaica — The police in this parish are mourning the loss of one of their members, 25-year-old District Constable, Romar Steele, who on Sunday night became Portland’s first fatality from a motor vehicle crash.

“We are saddened by his passing and pray strength for his family and colleagues,” Sergeant Delrose Green, from the Portland office of the police force’s communications unit told OBSERVER ONLINE on Monday.

READ: District constable killed in Portland crash

Steele was travelling towards Buff Bay when, on reaching a section of the roadway in the vicinity of the Church of God of Prophecy, he lost control of the Honda Civic motor car he was driving. The car collided into a utility pole. He was the sole occupant.

Steele was cut from the wreckage by members of the Buff Bay Fire Department and taken to the Annotto Bay Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A member of the parish police’s Resort Area team, Steele was also a musician. He played with the police youth choir and, when needed, with the local Algorhythm band. He played the bass at the church he attended, New Testament Assembly, and sometimes offered his services at the wakes of the deceased.

Rylan Carr, his co-worker, is among those left distraught by his death.

“Steele was well mannered and humble, we played together at dead yards and we worked together as district constables. It was really shocking when I heard of his passing last night. We all are mourning and we had counselling this morning with the police chaplin and counsellor,” he said.