Car thief nabbed in crash

AFTER stealing a car in Gasparillo yesterday morning, a man accidentally rammed the vehicle into an electricity pole in a getaway attempt. While the car remained lodged in the lamp post, which fell, the car thief was caught by police as he was about to free himself from behind the steering wheel. Police found the 20-year-old suspect bleeding and struggling to free himself. Police said the car thief, also of Gasparillo, suffered head injuries and was up to yesterday warded in a stable condition under police guard at the San Fernando General Hospital.

The incident began when Ryan Baboolal of Fabien Road reported to the Gasparillo Police Station that his green Ford Laser, which he had parked in front of his home around 1.30 am, was missing. A party of police from the Gasparillo Police Station was on patrol in the area, when around 5.30 am, they saw a car fitting the description given by Baboolal on top of a wire fence at Charles Street, Gasparillo. On investigation, the officers saw a man pinned behind the steering wheel and bleeding from the head.

Police said the man attempted to lift himself out of the vehicle, to no avail. According to the report, even the police officers were unable to free him. The lawmen subsequently contacted the Mon Repos Fire Station. Firemen freed the man from the mangled wreck without having to cut open the car. An EHS ambulance rushed the suspect to the hospital where he was admitted and treated. The front of the car was badly damaged. A party of policemen from the Gasparillo Police Station, headed by Insp Terry Khan, visited the scene. PC Mohammed is continuing investigations.