3-month-old survives crash

Three-year-old Cameron Lochan and his father Pradeep were killed in a horrific vehicular crash on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway yesterday morning. Cameron’s three-month old baby sister who was born on New Year’s Day miraculously survived the two-vehicle smash-up. Baby Celeste was taken to the paediatric section of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex yesterday. The family’s shocked mother Sally Lochan, a director at Chaos International told Newsday that Celeste did not even get a scratch and was resting comfortably. Sally told  investigators that her husband Pradeep, who worked at a Sea Lots warehouse owned by American Stores, dropped her off at work early yesterday morning and was returning to their Bamboo Village home with the two children.

Pradeep, 24,  was on two weeks vacation leave and wanted to spend time with his children. Reports revealed that around 9 am, he was driving his car east along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway in the vicinity of Solo Beverages with Cameron seated in the front passenger seat in a baby seat, and Celeste in a baby seat in the back seat. A panel van driven by Lutchman Maharaj ran across the median and collided head on with Lochan’s vehicle, killing Lochan and Cameron. The two deaths bring to 56, the number of persons killed in road deaths for the year. Reports revealed that Maharaj, of Cunupia, the driver of the panel van, was proceeding west along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway when he swerved his vehicle to avoid hitting a pedestrian who was crossing.

He lost control of the vehicle which crossed the median and ended up in the east bound lane. His van crashed head-on with Lochan’s car which resulted in the deaths of father and child. EHS officers were quickly on the scene and rushed baby Celeste to the EWMSC. The bodies of father and son were removed from the mangled wreck by fire officers who had to use a special piece of equipment to free the trapped bodies of the two victims. Their bodies were viewed by a District Medical Officer who was in the vicinity of the fatal accident. The bodies of Lochan and his son were placed together on the road and covered with a white sheet. The accident resulted in a massive traffic pile-up as scores of motorists, residents of Barataria and employees of Courts and Solo Beverages, gathered at the scene. Women wept openly while others looked on in disbelief.

By 11 am yesterday, the two bodies were finally removed from the scene of the crash and a steady flow of traffic resumed. The two crashed vehicles were towed to the Barataria Police Station. Senior police officers told Newsday that the area where the accident took place is noted for having a high incidence of deaths involving pedestrians. They advised persons to use the nearby walkover to cross the busy roadway to avoid being killed and placing motorists in danger. Inspector Nero, Sgt Chattoo and Cpl Gopiecharan-Alexander visited the scene and are continuing investigations.