Popular jerk pork chef Steve Johnson of Bull's Jerk Centre in Walderston, Manchester, became the first motor vehicle fatality for 2009 in the parish when the car he was driving crashed into a roundabout along the Winston Jones Highway early yesterday.

Johnson, 34, was driving his Toyota Camry motor car towards Mandeville about 1 a.m., accompanied by Damion McLeod, a co-worker, when he crashed and overturned in a ditch.

Allegations are that Johnson attempted to overtake a car which started going faster. This resulted in the tragic accident.

"I was wearing my seat belt and when I look around, I did not see Steve. When I came out of the car I saw him lying further up the road, as if he was thrown from the vehicle," said McLeod. "He appeared to be dead."

The Mandeville police visited the scene and transported Johnson's body to Lyn's Funeral Parlour. McLeod received bruises to his hand.

When THE STAR visited Johnson's, Walderston ,home yesterday, scores of visitors and tearful relatives were seen in mourning. The nearby Bull's Jerk Centre was closed in recognition of his tragic passing.

His sister Sherene said "his death is a great loss to the family, the parish and the entire Jamaica".

RIP STEVE.... MY CONDOLENSCES TO SHERENE, SERENA AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY