Woman crushed to death in PBR crash

A 52-year-old Munroe Road, Cunupia woman is the country’s 14th road fatality, while the driver of the vehicle in which she was killed is fighting for his life at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital following a collision at the intersection of the Priority Bus Route and Sixth Avenue, Barataria.

According to reports, at around 1.45 pm yesterday, a vehicle driven by Thaid Hosein of Bamboo village, Caroni, in which Deloris Ali, 52, was a passenger, was proceeding west along Fifth Street, Barataria. On reaching the dangerous intersection, the vehicle attempted to make an illegal right turn on to Sixth Avenue by cutting across the PBR, when they collided with a truck driven by Gregory Cuffy, 45. Ali, who was sitting in the passenger seat, was crushed on impact and was rushed by Emergency Health Services paramedics to the Port-of- Spain General Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The driver of the truck reportedly left to go to the hospital but never arrived and has since disappeared. Police are searching for him to assist them in their enquiries. Up to press time, Hosein, who is in a critical condition, was on the operating table. When contacted, head of the Mobile (Traffic) Branch ACP Curtis Lloyd told Newsday his department believes one of the problems at that area is the signs which says there should be no right turn or left turn. “The signs are small and many people don’t see them. If you don’t know the area, you can become a fatality. “New and bigger signs will be discussed at our next traffic meeting.”

The senior officer also warned drivers about speeding and called on passengers to demand that drivers slow down when they are going over the limit. He indicated that more serious legislation is being prepared. He also promised that they intend to mandate bar owners to refuse to provide liquor to drivers or persons who have had enough to drink. Under proposed legislation, a bar owner could lose his/her licence and face serious penalties if it can be proven that they continued to serve alcohol to someone who was intoxicated. ACP Lloyd also promised that several traffic officers will be placed on the road soon and many drivers will find the situation uncomfortable with frequent searches, but this is part of the strategy to stop the carnage. Sgt Rampersad of the Barataria Police Station is investigating the road death of Deloris Ali.