WESTMORELAND, Jamaica— The lawyer representing the Westmoreland taxi operator Delroy Rodney, who is charged with five counts of causing death by dangerous driving, has refuted claims that the cabbie fled the scene of the accident.

“My client is not a flight risk. He contacted his lawyer instantly after he returned from the hospital to take him in,” Rodney’s attorney Faith Salmon told Observer Online after the matter was mentioned in Westmoreland Parish Court on Wednesday afternoon.

He is also being represented by attorney Lambert Johnson.

Rodney made his first court appearance on Wednesday. He was remanded and a mention date has been set for Monday, November 20.

“The defence made the application for bail and the prosecution will respond on Monday. We are awaiting a response for the judge to give his final say,” Salmon added.

Observer Online witnessed a number of taxi operators and church members outside the courtroom, who came to lend their support to the accused.

READ: UPDATE: Driver involved in fatal Westmoreland crash in police custody

Earlier this week, Westmoreland head cop Senior Superintendent of Police Wayne Josephs said Rodney fled the scene of the fatal crash.

According to police reports, about 3:30 pm on Monday, the taxi, with six people onboard, was travelling towards Whitehouse when the vehicle it was travelling behind slowed down. The cab driver allegedly swerved, collided with a truck that was travelling in the opposite direction and ended up in a tree.

Three of the occupants of the vehicle died on the scene, while the two that were transported to hospital succumbed to their injuries on Monday night.

READ: UPDATE: Two children, their mothers among five killed in Westmoreland crash

The deceased have been identified Oneil Allen, otherwise called ‘Dummy’ and his mother 65-year-old Angela Samuels both of Mount Edgecombe, Farm district; 39-year-old Petrina Wallace and her 15-year-old daughter Lavecia Forrester both of Gordon district Whitehouse; and 54-year-old Janet Thompson of McAlpine district, all in Westmoreland.

– Kimberley Peddie