Man crashes car to avoid kidnap

In an attempt to botch his kidnapping, a Siparia taxi driver crashed his car into a house, police said yesterday. The forced accident proved effective for Soogrim Partap, as his three armed assailants climbed out of the wreck and fled on foot, leaving him unharmed. The incident occurred around 1.40 am yesterday when Partap took up three passengers as he plied his taxi along the Quarry Road stretch in Siparia. Police said the three men — two armed with cutlasses, and another with a gun — ordered him to keep driving. However, within five minutes of the hold-up, Partap forced his car off the road and slammed into the premises of Mary Balgobin. As the men ran off, Partap came out onto the roadway and took a lift with another taxi driver to the Santa Flora police station where he reported the matter. Police said there were minor damages to the house. Cpl Corrie is continuing investigations.