Cancer sufferer, 16, killed in accident

The boy’s father Errol Williams told police that he and his wife Vera were driving their son home in the family’s panel van when tragedy occurred. Shane was discharged yesterday after spending two weeks at EWMSC.

The accident occurred at about 2.30 pm near the Gasparillo flyover. Police said Williams of Contention Street, Indian Walk, Moruga lost control of the vehicle and struck a pick-up van on the south-bound lane of the highway before slamming into a light pole.

The driver of the other van, Mewaram Dharam, 47, a land surveyor of Boodoo Trace, Debe told Newsday his Mazda twin-cab van was at the time parked on the shoulder of the south-bound lane of the highway.

“I pulled onto the shoulder to take a call on my cell-phone when I heard a bang. The van struck my van broadside and then crashed into a light pole. I came out and tried to help them, but the doors could not open,” Dharam said.

He said passing motorists called the police and ambulance services. Dharam said he eventually pulled open the passenger and driver’s doors for Williams and his wife to climb out of the wreck.

Dharam told Newsday when he opened the back of the panel van, Shane was bleeding from a head injury. He died before the EHS paramedics arrived on the scene. Police yesterday questioned why the teenager was being transported in a private vehicle rather than an ambulance. Police could not ascertain if Shane was lying on a mattress in the van or was seated in his wheelchair at the time of the accident. St Margaret’s police are continuing investigations.