Truck driver dies instantly in accident

Truck-driver Shaheed Mohammed aged 54, became the country’s latest road fatality when he died instantly yesterday after the fuel-tanker he was driving capsized off a road in New Grant. Mohammed of Soledad Road, Claxton Bay, who was employed with Rahamut’s Enterprises Ltd, was transporting diesel to Pt Galeota when he was killed. According to police reports, around 2.45 pm, Mohammed was driving the tanker east along the Naparima/Mayaro Road, when on reaching George Village in Tableland, he attempted to negotiate a sharp corner near an abandoned Caroni (1975) Ltd animal pasture.

Police believe the tanker’s wheel skirted the edge of the road which caused it to tilt. The truck and tanker overturned into a steep ditch off the road. Princes Town police visited the scene along with firemen who used the hydraulic cutting device known as the “jaws of life” to reach Mohammed’s corpse inside the truck cabin. Late yesterday evening firemen were still on the scene washing thousands of gallons of diesel fuel which spilled onto the road. Dennis Ramdeen, general manager of Rahamut’s, was on the scene of the accident, but was too distraught to speak to reporters. District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr Hal Campie viewed the body and ordered it removed to the San Fernando Mortuary. Visiting the scene were ASP Carol Collymore,  Cpl Ramdeen, PCs Sookoo and police photographer Veano Ragoo. PC Ramdeen is continuing investigations.