The local sporting fraternity is mourning the loss of a national athlete who died after the vehicle in which she was travelling plunged into a river in Jamaica.Shirnell Ettienne, 31, of Point Fortin, who represented Trinidad and Tobago at several regional and international events, died on Monday after the vehicle in which she was travelling reportedly ran off the roadway and plunged into the Wag Water River along the Agualta Vale main road in St Mary.According to a post on the Facebook profile TTgameplan, Ettienne, 31, was travelling with three other people in a Toyota Corolla Altis when tragedy struck near the Wag Water Bridge. The vehicle was heading west when its driver lost control while negotiating a left-hand bend and crashed into the river.Published reports indicated that the occupants initially managed to escape from the vehicle. However, Ettienne reportedly slipped while trying to make her way to safety and was carried away by the strong current.A resident later retrieved her body from the river. Ettienne was taken to the Annotto Bay Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The three other occupants received medical treatment and were subsequently discharged.News of her death sent shockwaves through the sporting fraternity, with fellow athletes, sporting organisations and friends and residents of Point Fortin expressing grief and disbelief.Condolence messages have poured in on social media, with many remembering her for her dedication to sport, her accomplishments and the pride with which she represented the national colours.Several people also extended sympathy to her relatives, teammates and friends as they struggled to come to terms with the sudden loss.One of her friends posted, “To know Shirnell Ettienne was to know laughter Her presence could light up a room, and her laughter was something you could never forget. She had a way of making people smile and creating memories that will forever live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. It hurts knowing we have to say goodbye, but we will forever cherish the beautiful memories she left behind. Rest peacefully, beautiful soul. You will truly be missed.”The TTgameplan post read, “Ettienne was a product of the Point Fortin New Jets club and later represented UTT Fast Track. She earned her place in national athletics history at the 2014 Carifta Games in Martinique, where she took silver with Girls Under-20 4x400m relay team that included Ayoka Cummings, Tsai-Anne Joseph and Zakiya Denoon. Their time was 3:46.11. In the individual event, Ettienne placed 7th in a time of 58.10. Domestically, she took bronze in the GU18 400m at the 2012 NAAA Junior Championships with a time of 58.21 and also contested the senior women's 200m that year. She later competed at the Southern Games and the NAAA Cross Country Championships, showing range across sprint and middle-distance events. Ettienne leaves behind a daughter, who, according to those close to the family, has expressed hopes of following her mother into the sport.”