The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

WHAT initially appeared to be a traffic fatality in Grand Bahama has now become a homicide investigation, taking the country’s murder count for the year to 75.

Police initially thought that a 31-year-old Williams Town man was killed as a result of a car crash in bushes on Creswell Road early on Thursday morning. However, on further investigation, they confirmed that it was not an accident that resulted in the man’s death.

Inspector Terecita Pinder of Grand Bahama Police reported that stab wounds were discovered in the victim’s upper chest area. Although police have not yet released the victim’s name, the deceased man is believed to be Vernon Smith, aka ‘Five-O’ of Williams Town.

His death takes the island’s murder count to seven for the year.

According to police reports, sometime around 7am on Thursday officers

received information about a traffic accident on Creswell Road. It was reported that a man was driving a black 2004 Ford Escape, which crashed into a large pine tree in bushes. When officers arrived at the scene, the deceased was discovered dead outside the vehicle.

“Initial reports are that on Thursday 2nd July 2015, this matter was reported as a traffic fatality,” Isnpector Pinder said. “Further investigation into the matter, and with the assistance of a pathologist, stab wounds to the upper chest of the deceased were discovered.”

Inspector Pinder added that officers of the Central Detective Unit had arrested an 18-year-old male resident of Caravel Beach, who is assisting them with their investigation.

Due to this, Grand Bahama’s traffic fatality count stands at seven for the year, not eight as reported.