Coast Guardsman plans funeral for family

His wife, 34-year-old Carla Collins, and his children Kamari, eight months, and Kamani, two years, died on Thursday in a road traffic accident along the Priority Bus Route (PBR) at the Mausica junction.

According to reports, at about 10.30 pm, a car belonging to Deryck Elcock was parked near the PBR at the intersection as a silver-coloured Mitsubishi Lancer driven by Collins, 33, was proceeding south along Mausica Road. As Collins’ car proceeded north to south across the PBR, a speeding car driven by a 28-yearold man of D’Abadie, proceeding west to east along the PBR, slammed into the back, right side of Collins’ car.

The impact was so great that Carla and her two sons, who were seated in the back, were flung out of the vehicle. Kamani ended up in a drain at the side of the PBR while Kamari and Carla fell onto the culvert. Collins however, sustained minor injuries.

When Sunday Newsday visited the home of Collin’s parents at Darwell Gardens, Arima, a relative said he was out with another family member making funeral arrangements.

He said Collins told them he saw the car coming towards his vehicle but it was moving so quickly that there was nothing he could do, especially with two cars in front of him. “He’s doing alright. Sometimes he’s fine but at other times he’s not when he relives what happened.

Like this morning when he saw the front page of the newspaper...

he lost it. I think it’s best that he keeps busy,” said the relative.

He added that Collins and Carla were married two years ago in June soon after the birth of their first son, and moved in to their own home around the time of the birth of their second child. “They were really looking forward to celebrating their wedding anniversary,” he said sadly.