A third person contracted to the Jamaica Public Service Company's (JPS) electricity restoration efforts following Hurricane Dean which lashed the island on August 19, has died.

He has been identified as Vincent Murdock, 51 years old of Greater Portmore, St. Catherine.

Reports from the Constabulary Communication Network are that Murdock was aboard a JPS truck that plunged over a precipice along the Leith Hall main road in St. Thomas.

He was pronounced dead at the Princess Margaret Hospital in the parish, while four other persons were admitted to the facility.

The injured men have been identified as Ian Banton, Cal Bayliss, Canute Channer, all of Kingston addresses, and the driver, Prince Riley, of Greater Portmore.

Reports reaching The Gleaner are that the team was dispatched to the eastern parish to assist with restoration work and was returning home when the crash occured.

Condolences

Winsome Callum, head of corporate communications at JPS, yesterday extended condolences to the family, co-workers and friends of the deceased contractor.

"The contractor firm to which the deceased was employed was one of several hired by JPS to assist with restoration efforts following the passage of Hurricane Dean," Ms. Callum said.

It was not immediately clear whether Murdock was a member of the JPS' Contractors' Association which is represented by the National Workers' Union (NWU). The NWU has argued that with three men being killed since the island was hit by the hurricane, issues of health and safety need to be urgently addressed with its members.

"Three lives lost and it really means something is wrong and we have to getit right. It might be that in terms of training, it's not as tight when it comes to health and safety issues," said Vincent Morrison, NWU president.

Less than three weeks ago, 20-year-old contractor Denton Parker was electrocuted while carrying out emergency repair work for the power provider at the Tredegar Substation in St. Catherine.