TT cricketers in car crash

Batsman Jason Mohammed, 18, and spin bowler Rishi Bachan, 19, both of Barrackpore, and two other men gave statements to the police.

Mohammed’s father, Nazrudeen Mohammed, said that his son and the other three men went to the Barrackpore Police Station early yesterday morning to report a vehicular accident they were involved in. No one was injured. However, after making the report they were not allowed to leave the station until about 4 pm. This meant that the two national players missed their practice session which was carded for 3.30 pm at the Balmain ground yesterday.

According to police reports, Mohammed was driving his father’s Nissan Primera motorcar with Bachan and two others in the passenger seat when about 1.15 am yesterday, the car crashed into a house at Rochard Douglas Road, Barrackpore.

According to a police report, young Mohammed said he “got a bad drive” from a vehicle that was travelling in the opposite direction and crashed into the house when he swerved to avoid a collision with the other vehicle.

Teekadaye Seukeran, 42, the owner of the house, said that she, her 75-year-old mother Jasodiah, and niece, Lisa Mohammed, 25, were alseep in the three-bedroom flat concrete house when they were awakened by a loud noise. Seukeran said, “I came out and I could not open the (front) door. I went by a window to watch around and I saw a car in the porch and four boys around the car.” Seukeran said she recognised the four from seeing them in the village. “They all seemed dazed and in shock. It took us about 20 minutes to call the police because we did not know what to do.” The crash caused damage to the porch area and cover of the cesspit, Seukeran said. Nazrudeen Mohammed said he came to the scene and made arrangements with Seukeran to pay for the damage.

Mohammed, the cricketer’s father, told Newsday that his son was supposed to meet the rest of the national team at 2.30pm at Paria Suites Hotel, Claxton Bay and then enter a camp for the weekend in preparation for tomorrow’s Carib Shield final against Barbados.

The 18-year-old right-handed batsman was named Man of the Match at last week’s semi-final match against Windward Islands having scored 124 runs to steer the national team to victory. Bachan, a left arm spinner, has represented the West Indies under-19 team at two youth Cricket World Cups. Mohammed and Bachan play for Powergen Sports in the national league.

Police said the national cricketers and the two other men gave statements before they left.