OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Resident Magistrate Carolyn Tie yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of the driver of the ill-fated Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) bus that was involved in the deadly crash in St Ann last month.

Jeremy Stewart, who has been charged with manslaughter and was booked to appear in the St Ann’s Bay Resident Magistrate’s court yesterday, failed to show for his hearing.

The warrant will be stayed until January 5 when the case will again be mentioned.

Stewart, who is out on a $600,000-bond, was charged after the bus he was driving plunged into a precipice at Faith’s Pen, killing 16-year-old Jodian Henry on the night of October 15.

He reportedly lost control of the vehicle while transporting Jodian and dozens of other members of the New Testament Church at Bayside in Portmore to the Moneague College in St Ann for a church function. About 40 persons were injured.

After the incident, the JUTC said Stewart was not authorised to operate the bus and that it was the designated driver who allowed him to drive.

The bus company alleged that Stewart had a poor driving record and was attending hearings for his infractions.

As a condition of Stewart’s bail, he was ordered to surrender his travel documents and a stop order was imposed at all ports. He was also ordered to report to the Duhaney Park police in St Andrew daily between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm.