Ice-cream mom killed in horror crash

Grief has gripped the community of King's Street in downtown Kingston as relatives and residents struggle to process the sudden and shocking death of 46-year-old Tamara Manning.

An ice-cream shop operator, Manning died on February 15 after a motor vehicle crash sent a vehicle careening onto the sidewalk where she was seated in front of her business place.

Her mother, Maxine, said the pain is almost too much to bear.

"Tamara was a jovial and kind person and she love children. Mi just can't believe me lose mi one daughter," she said, fighting back tears.

Manning leaves behind a son who lives overseas -- a reality that has deepened the heartbreak.

"Her son don't live here, but when mi a talk to him pon the phone him cry. Him haffi hang up and wait a while fi call me back," Maxine shared.

The grieving mother explained that her daughter had built her life around the small business she loved.

"That's her job, she out there every day, and she open in the evening hours. A years she a do this business and it's something she did have a big passion for," she said.

Residents said Manning was at her usual evening spot when two motor vehicles reportedly collided. The driver of one of the vehicles lost control, which resulted in the car mounting the sidewalk and hitting her.

The horrifying incident was captured on CCTV.

"It's not like say she was in the road or crossing the road," her mother fumed, demanding accountability for her daughter's death.

Community members described Manning as warm-hearted and generous, often treating neighbourhood children as if they were her own.

"Saturday inna the day a the last time me see her when she ago fix up her hair fi funeral Sunday, now me can't believe seh a fi her funeral we a look fi go," an elderly resident said quietly.

Ashanti, a young woman who said Manning was like a second mother to her, said the loss has left the area shaken.

"Everybody know and love Tamara, especially through her business because every Sunday after dinner people look forward fi come buy ice cream at Tamara," she said.

"After seeing the video, I felt so hurt to know she was there like any other day and she is gone just like that," Ashanti added.

"Seeing that as her last moments was hard to watch because I know she don't like pain and she must have been in pain after she got hit."

Meanwhile, residents also raised concerns about the state of the roadway, arguing that long-standing damage may have contributed to the crash.

When THE STAR visited the scene yesterday, freshly laid asphalt was observed along the stretch residents said was filled with potholes up to the time of Manning's death.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Gary McKenzie confirmed that the fatal crash remains under active investigation.

He explained that as with all motor vehicle collisions, a full probe is being conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Investigators will assess the evidence to decide whether any individual can be held criminally responsible.

If fault cannot be conclusively established, the case file will be submitted to the Clerk of Court for review and further direction.

Thirty-five persons have died as a result of crashes as at February 16, the Road Safety Unit reports. There were 374 traffic fatalities in 2025.