Army convoy in Wrightson Road smash-up

An army convoy transporting heavily armed Defence Force officers to Teteron Barracks, Chaguaramas, caused injury to one man and traffic to come to a standstill along Wrightson Road yesterday, when one of their drivers ran through a red traffic light and collided with a private car near Newsday’s office on Wrightson Road. The army officers were returning from a series of islandwide roadblock exercises held by police with the assistance of soldiers yesterday. Around 3.10 pm, the convoy with sirens and flashing lights was approaching Wrightson Road, when Ken Macimo, driver of vehicle PBN 2494, who was approaching Wrightson Road from Independence Square, proceeded along Wrightson Road as the light turned green. His windows were up.

As he proceeded on to Wrightson Road, the convoy also proceeded causing an army vehicle to collide with the car driven by Macimo. Sydney Huggins, a passenger in Macimo’s car who was seated in the front passenger seat, incurred back injuries. He remained seated in the car in shock over the incident, but told Newsday he was all right and was awaiting the arrival of the ambulance. Almost half an hour later, an EHS ambulance arrived on the scene and an attendant put an oxygen mask over the elderly man’s face. A brace was also placed over his back to protect him from additional injury. Huggins was carefully removed from the car by stretcher and taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Checks with the hospital yesterday revealed that Huggins was treated for shock and an old back injury.

Traffic officers arrived on the scene and brought the traffic pile-up under control as several motorists slowed down to catch a glimpse of the wrecked car which ended up on the median. Macimo, who also appeared shaken, said he followed traffic regulations and proceeded along Wrightson Road when the traffic light turned green. He said he was going to his Diego Martin home to get a little rest, as he had to go to the Piarco Airport later to pick up his daughter, who was returning to Trinidad. Macimo denied that the convoy had sirens blaring, and added that he had the right of way on Wrightson Road. He insisted that the convoy should have waited its turn to proceed on Wrightson Road. Tempers flared when Macimo insisted he was right.

He was verbally challenged by two senior army officers, who then questioned Newsday’s presence on the scene. “You do not need to be here. This is just a minor accident,” said a burly officer who instructed the driver of the army vehicle to secure information from Macimo, away from Newsday. Senior police officers told Newsday that the army convoy should have obeyed the traffic regulations and awaited their turn to proceed along Wrightson Road. This is not the first time that members of the public have been injured (and killed) as a result of reckless driving by members of the fire, police and army officers. Officers of the Central Police Station are investigating.