State liable in death of woman

A HIGH COURT judge has found the State liable in the motor vehicle death of a woman nearly eight years ago. Justice Rajendra Narine, presiding in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Civil Court, on Tuesday ordered that damages be assessed in the death of Janet Bideshi who died on June 14, 1998. Attorney Asaf Hosein represented Donna Bideshi, 17, who is the administratrix of the estate of the dead woman, while State attorney Rachel Thurab appeared for the Attorney General.

Janet Bideshi was a passenger in a  Fire Services ambulance on June 14, 1998 which was travelling along the Valencia stretch. It was alleged that the driver of the ambulance drove negligently causing the vehicle to skid and run off the road causing severe injuries to Janet, her daughter Donna and son Warren. Janet, a vendor, was 48 years old at the time of the accident. She suffered a number of injuries which resulted in her death. The judge held that the ambulance driver was negligent in driving too fast. The State had asked for contributory negligence, but this was rejected by the judge.