Road death victim run over by 4 cars

A 35-year-old taxi driver was killed while crossing the Uriah Butler Highway in the vicinity of Seereram Brothers, Chase Village, around 10 pm on Friday. His death brings the total number of road fatalities in the country to 117 for the year. During the same period last year, 136 persons were killed on the nation’s roadways. Reports revealed that Ronney Ramkelawan, alias “Fowl Cock,” was crossing the Highway when a vehicle driven by Sean Sheppard, a pilot of Lange Park, Chaguanas struck him.

Four other cars reportedly ran over Ramkelawan’s body as it lay on the highway. The body was viewed by District Medical Officer Dr Teelucksingh and removed to the Port-of-Spain Mortuary. At Peters Trace, Chin Chin Road, Cunupia yesterday, grieving relatives told Sunday Newsday that Ramkelawan, who has one child, left home on Friday to work his taxi on the Chaguanas to Port-of-Spain route. Later in the evening, he went liming with friends and two relatives.

According to reports, one of his relatives took away the keys for his taxi because he felt Ramkelwan was in no condition to drive. Ramkelawan went in search of his keys and was crossing the busy Highway to go to a house to enquire about his car keys, when he was struck by the car. He was dragged 500 feet before four cars ran over the body. Christine Ramkelawan, wife of the dead man was in tears at the home of her in-laws yesterday. Taxi drivers who worked the Chaguanas to Port-of-Spain route with Ramkelawan expressed sadness over his death. Officers of the Chaguanas Police Station are investigating.