Three weeks after crash, victims still critical

ALMOST three weeks after being critically injured in an accident and three days after awaking from a coma, Latchman Jagmohan, 20, remains in serious condition at hospital. His family is pleading for financial help since a much-needed CAT scan costs $1,200.

Jagmohan, of Rochard Road, Penal, is in Ward Six of the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH). He suffered massive head injuries and doctors said some of his brain cells have been  damaged. They have ordered that he be sent to the Gulf View Medical Complex for a brain scan. Jagmohan is unable to speak, eat or drink and is in dire need of blood.  So far four people have donated at a cost of  $900 a pint. His mother,  Leela Ramdeo, 37, has been at his side since he arrived at hospital. His father Seepersad Jagmohan, a part-time labourer, receives $700 a month in state assistance but there are five other children in the family to feed. Jagmohan’s mother said: “It’s very hard, he does not know himself...he is in a bad condition.” Another victim of the accident, Anand Ishmael, who turns 20 today, is also in Ward Six of the SFGH. His left leg and hand are broken, along with three of his ribs and his jaw. Doctors will perform an operation on his jaw soon.

For 18 days Ishmael has been unable to eat. The accident, which landed the two young men in hospital, occurred on May 24 in Union Village, Rio Claro. According to Ishmael, they were heading towards Mayaro when a van travelling in the other direction veered into the path of their car. The vehicles collided and all four occupants in the car were injured, including the driver, a national of Holland. The 37-year-old driver of the van, who is from Penal,  said he noticed a car attempting to cross over to his side of the road and he took evasive action, swinging into their lane. He maintained that he was not at fault for the accident. He said: “Since that happened I scared. Whatever in my own little way I can do to help, I would.”