Michael McLean, Star Writer

Santa Cruz

Three family members, including one who was pregnant, were burned to death in an early morning fire at Kilmarnock district near New Market, St. Elizabeth, yesterday.

Dead are Francella Johnson, 80, 38-year-old Veronica Johnson, who was pregnant, and 10-year-old Brittany Johnson, all of Kilmarnock district.

The St. Elizabeth Constabulary Communication Network repor-ted that about 4:45 a.m. residents saw fire coming from a section of a five-room dwelling and raised an alarm.

A unit from the Black River Fire Department responded and extinguished the blaze. During cooling-down operations, the bodies of the three dead persons, were discovered inside.

Two other family members Angela Johnson, 28, and eight-year-old Daniel Stone, survived the blaze.

Young Daniel told THE STAR that he was awakened by the smoke and taken outside of the house. A 2002 Toyota Corolla valued at over $800,000 was also destroyed in the blaze.

Total loss is estimated at $2.2 million. One of the deceased persons, Veronica, the pregnant mother, had just returned from The Cayman Islands on Monday and was preparing to have her baby in Jamaica.