2 more road deaths — year’s toll now 73

TWO MORE persons died by vehicular accidents early yesterday, bringing the number of road fatalities for the year to 73, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police (Mobile) Deochan Gosine.  For the corresponding period last year, the figure was 92, he said.

Dead are Allan Francis, 46, of Cicada Street, River Estate, Diego Martin, and Cindy Sherina Khan, 21, of Orchard Gardens, Chaguanas. They died within 30 minutes of each other in separate accidents. One on the Audrey Jeffers Highway and the other on the Beetham Highway. Police said Francis, a taxi driver, died around 1.30 am when he lost control of his 280C vehicle, which later crashed into a light pole in the vicinity of Movie Towne. Francis had just come off Wrightson Road, from where he was proceeding in a westerly direction, when the accident occurred.  He died on the spot.  PC Prescott of the St James Police Station is continuing investigations. Later, around 2 am, police said five people, including Khan, were travelling in a white car, proceeding west on the Beetham Highway, Sea Lots.

Police said the vehicle, driven by Arissa Mohammed, 20, of Munroe Road, Cunupia, collided with the pavement on the southern side of the highway. Mohammed then lost control of the vehicle which collided with a light pole about 200 feet away. Khan died on the spot, while Mohammed, along with Roy Welcome, 27, also of Munroe Road, Cunupia; Sunil Rampersad, 28, of Carlsen Field, Chaguanas; and Navina Itwaru, 26, of Edinburgh Village, Chaguanas, were injured.  The four injured were rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital (PoSGH).  Welcome, Rampersad and Mohammed are warded at hospital, while Itwaru was attended to and discharged. Cpl Jacob of the Police Traffic Branch is investigating.  Commenting on the road fatalities, ACP Gosine said both accidents occurred at times when the roads were clear of traffic. Gosine said the damage to the vehicles is also consistent with speed and inexperience. 

The senior officer appealed to motorists to obey the highway codes and drive within their limitations. He also commented on last Saturday’s accident which claimed the life of 18-year-old Shawn Edmund, a former resident of Sangre Grande. Edmund was struck by a vehicle driven by former Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Cecil Carrington.  Police said the young man was attempting to cross the Priority Bus Route (PBR) from north to south at Reid Lane, D’Abadie. Following Edmund’s death, several people who claimed to have witnessed the accident voiced disgust, and made several allegations against the former cop. But Gosine said three people who did not give statements said  they saw nothing, while another two who gave statements also indicated they saw nothing.  Insp Fraser of St Joseph Police Station is spearheading enquiries.