Lydian singer killed in crash

A 43-year-old member of the Lydian Singers was killed in a crash at Claxton Bay while on his way to perform at an Emancipation Day celebration at the Naparima Bowl, San Fernando yesterday. Orlando Mc Intosh, of Lime Grove Road, Trincity, died of severe head and chest injuries at the San Fernando General Hospital within two hours of the crash. Mc Intosh had been pinned behind the steering wheel of his car after a pick-up van flipped and landed on his car while driving south along the Solomon Hochoy Highway. 

Two other victims of the two-vehicle smash-up are warded in critical condition at the San Fernando General Hospital. According to eyewitnesses, around 10.15 am a white Isuzu pick-up van, driven by Richard Charles, of Main Road, Erin, was travelling along the north-bound lane of the highway in the vicinity of the Claxton Bay flyover when he lost control of the vehicle while overtaking. Witnesses said Charles’ van somersaulted across the median onto the southbound lane, and ploughed into the driver’s side of Mc Intosh’s white Ford Escort. Fire officials who arrived quickly at the scene resorted to using the hydraulic cutter — “the Jaws of Life” — to free Mc Intosh, who lay semi-conscious and bleeding profusely in the driver’s seat.
However, the man sitting in the front passenger seat of Mc Intosh’s car, Anthony Diaz, of Second Street, Cazabon Avenue, Trincity, was able to walk out of the wreckage with minor cuts and bruises on his right arm. 

The driver of the pick-up van, Charles, was said to be in a critical condition, while the other occupant of the van, Aaron Blackman was warded in a stable condition. Both men are employees of Erin Farms and were transporting a load of horse feed to Santa Rosa Park, Arima.  A medical doctor who was also driving along the highway at the time of the crash rushed to the aid of the victims. Both Mc Intosh, a guitarist and singer, and his partner Diaz, were on their way to the Naparima Bowl, San Fernando to perform at the Agape Show. WP Sgt Camilla Mohammed, Cpl Wayne Boyd and PC Ramdeen are continuing enquiries. Mc Intosh is the second person to die by accident within a week in South Trinidad. Last week, Sunita Camille Bobb, 32, was knocked down and killed while walking along Poona Main Road, Williamsville. She was on her way home from work when she was struck by a car driven by another woman.