A police officer was killed in a crash yesterday afternoon when his BMW collided with a utility pole along the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway in Couva.

Police said the accident occurred around 12.30 p.m. on the rain-swept northbound lane of the highway. Special Reserve Police Constable Zachariah Gill, of Williamsville, had recently purchased the BMW and was on his way to Port of Spain to begin his shift.

As Gill drove north and downhill towards the Preysal overpass, an area notorious for past fatal crashes, he reportedly lost control of the vehicle.