St James man dies in Easter Sunday crash

Just as the long and somewhat peaceful Easter weekend was nearing its end, tragedy struck for a St James man who died after he was seriously injured in a car accident on Sunday night. According to reports, at about 8.45 pm, Ille Aquing of Nizam Street, St James, was driving north along the Uriah Butler Highway when the mishap occurred. Reports state that Ille, lost control of his car which ran into a light pole near John Peters Road, Charlieville. Aquing, a female companion and a two-and-a-half-year-old baby girl, were all rushed to hospital with severe injuries.

While the baby girl and the other female passenger remained warded in critical condition, Aquing succumbed to his injuries during the early hours of yesterday, becoming the 58th road fatality for the year. Constable Mohammed of the Chaguanas Traffic Branch is investigating. And with another road fatality figure added to the growing list, police officers were out in full force over the weekend, issuing tickets to traffic offenders. Roadblocks were set up throughout the island including areas such as the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, the Valencia stretch and along the Naparima Mayaro Road. ACP Mobile Nazamool Hosein said over 500 tickets were issued to delinquent motorists for speeding.

“Five hundred and nine tickets were issued for speeding between Friday and early yesterday. And apart from tickets issued for speeding, officers issued 646 tickets for other traffic offences. These numbers are very disturbing to me and are also very disappointing.” Hosein said his disappointment came about due to the fact that motorists were warned that officers would be out seeking traffic offenders. “While the figures show that officers are working and doing their jobs, it is also a clear indication that people continue to break the law for whatever reason.”

Hosein was adamant, however, saying the growing number of road accidents will not deter him and other officers from performing their duties. “We issue advance warnings and do what we have to do. Yet still, people continue to break the laws on the roads. Leave home earlier and practice patience on the roads,” he pleaded. The ACP Mobile will receive figures for tickets issued in Tobago today.