What should have been a joyride for six friends from Greater Portmore, St Catherine, on Monday night turned tragic after the vehicle they were travelling in crashed into a utility pole, killing three of the juveniles.

Information reaching is THE STAR is that about 11:45 p.m., a 15-year-old reportedly stole his father's beige Isuzu motor truck from their Greater Portmore home and went for a spin with five friends on-board. The youngsters were travelling eastbound on Port Henderson Road towards Kingston when the vehicle developed difficulties and ran into a utility pole.

Inspector Michael Llewellyn of the St Catherine South Traffic Department said all four passengers who were travelling in the back of the vehicle were thrown from it. Three of them Matthew Brown, 10, Crystal Robinson, 15, and Oshane Salmon, 14, all died on arrival at the Spanish Town Hospital.

The young driver of the vehicle received injuries and was treated and released. Inspector Llewellyn said he is currently in custody and is to be charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without a licence, driving without insurance coverage and driving away motor vehicle without the owner's consent.

The officer said that they were also trying to locate the home addresses of the two other occupants of the vehicle who have not been seen since the accident. Speeding was said to be a factor in the tragic accident.