Youth cricketers in deadly car crash

THREE BYSTANDERS were killed when a car crashed into a bus shelter in Couva early yesterday morning. The fatal car crash occurred at 8.30 am. National Under-19 cricketer Jonathan Augustus was on his way to national trials, when he lost control of the car near a bus shed off the Couva Branch Road. The vehicle ploughed into a group of persons who were standing in the bus shed awaiting transport. Shawn John, 29, of Marie Road, Morvant, died on the spot, while David Sealy, of Maloney Gardens, D’Abadie, died at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. A third person, who also died at hospital, is yet to be identified.

Augustus and other National Under-19 players Earnil Ryan and Samuel Felix were on their way to trials at Gilbert Park, Couva. During a heavy downpour Augustus lost control of the car which spun out of control and skidded into the persons standing under the bus shelter. Ryan sustained a broken hand in the crash. When Newsday visited John’s home at Marie Road, Morvant, his devastated younger brother Marlon could not contain himself and started smashing things around after learning of his brother’s death. Neighbours had to pacify and console the young man. After officials at Gilbert Park heard about the fatal crash, yesterday’s national trials were called off. Several officials and players went to the crash site and prayed for their injured comrades.