Truck driver in highway crash gets $100,000 bail

TRUCK driver Wiltshire Modeste, who is in court on five charges of driving a truck in a dangerous manner causing the deaths of five persons, was yesterday granted bail in the sum of $100,000.

Modeste, 57, of Ravine Sable Road, Longdenville, Chaguanas, made his second appearance yesterday before Senior Magistrate Gail Gonzales at the Arima First Mag-istrates’ Court to answer the five charges, all laid by Sgt Godson Andrews of the Maloney Police Post. The Home Construction Limited (HCL) driver was not called upon to plead since the charges were all laid indictably. The matters were adjourned to May 13. Modeste surrendered to the police last Friday and later appeared before Justice of the Peace Khan at the First Magistrates’ Court. Modeste was subsequently remanded into police custody to yesterday. The road fatality which claimed the five lives occurred on the morning of April 28 at the Mausica intersection and Churchill Roosevelt Highway.

The five who died are Amalgamated security officer John Solomon Jr, Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) worker Natasha Marcano, and Venezuelan nationals Sudheyl Cristina Sanchez, Carolina Perdomo and Andres Hugo Jiminez. The three Venezuelans were studying English here. Four witnesses are expected to testify on behalf of the State.  Modeste was charged following instructions Wednesday by Assistant Commis-sioner of Police (Mobile) Deochan Gosine. Investigations were spearheaded by ACP (East) Nazamul Hosein and Sr Supt Rodvan Bastien and included all members of the Maloney Police Post.