Truck catches fire on highway

A CONTAINER truck caught fire yesterday on the Solomon Hochoy Highway causing a huge traffic pile-up along the south bound lane. Speaking to Newsday on the scene, owner and driver of the truck, Augustus Subnaik of Enterprise, Chaguanas, reportedly said his loss was estimated to be $180,000.

He reportedly said he was transporting goods to a company at Point Lisas from Port-of-Spain when on passing the Freeport Exit he noticed smoke coming from the engine and filling the cab. “I immediately pulled unto the shoulder and just had time to get out of the cab when the whole cab ignited” Subnaik said. Police officers attached to the Freeport Police Station, led by PC Waldron, managed to stop traffic while fire officers attached to the Couva Station, led by FSSO Gibbs, tried to put out the blaze. The container itself was not damaged. Investigations are continuing.