12 hurt in 5-car smash up

Twelve persons suffered injuries in the smash up.

Among the injured was a driver identified as Kiran Maharaj, who suffered massive head injuries. He was rushed to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where he underwent emergency surgery. Up until late last night his condition remained critical.

Reports revealed that at about 6 pm, Maharaj was proceeding in a westerly direction along the CR Highway when on reaching the intersection of the CR and Uriah Butler Highways he lost control of his vehicle, crossed the median, and struck and uprooted a lamppost.

The runaway car crashed into vehicles travelling in an easterly direction.

Officers of the Emergency Health Services were quickly on the scene, along with fire officers. They were stationed on the side of the highway as attempts were made to deal with broken bones, and cuts.

Wreckers from the Police Traffic Branch were summoned to the scene to remove the wrecked vehicles.

While this was taking place motorists travelling in an easterly direction along the CR Highway remained at a standstill for more than two hours.

By 8.30 pm, fire officers had washed away broken glass and debris from the roadway. A party of officers led by PC Jackson and including WPC Pierre, Greaves, Lezama, Punter and Ramlalsingh of the Highway patrol was busy at work trying to deal with the traffic congestion.

Checks last night at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex revealed that of the 11 injured, two were children.