Youth fined for dangerous driving

A 17-YEAR-OLD Cedros youth was disqualified from obtaining a Driving Permit (DP) for 12 months  and also fined a total of $1,300 for a series of charges arising out of an incident last year, in which a 21-year-old woman was dragged some 30 feet along the road, after her feet became entangled in a length of rope attached to the back of a van, driven by the youth.

According to the court order, the 12-month disqualification takes effect from the date when it becomes legal for him to hold a DP. The sentence was handed down on Calvin Ramnarinesingh on Monday, after he was found guilty by Point Fortin Second Court Magistrate Rae Roopchand. The case against Ram-narinesingh was that around 6.30 pm on April 13, 2002, 21-year-old Angela James was walking along Icacos Main Road when her foot got entangled around a piece of  rope which was trailing from a van driven by Ramnarinesingh. James was dragged some 30 feet along the road before her screams alerted Ramnarinesingh, the driver, who was then 16 years old at the time.

The woman sustained serious injuries to the lower part of her body and had to undergo emergency surgery at San Fernando General Hospital, where she was subsequently warded for two weeks.  As a result of the injuries, the woman was left with permanent scars about her body. Ramnarinesingh was later arrested and charged by Cpl Davbid Subero of the Cedros police station with dangerous driving, failing to report an accident, having no DP and Certificate of Insurance. If  the youth does not pay the fines, he will be sent to the Youth Training Centre (YTC) for six months.