FREAK DEATHS

The dead men are fisherman Kevin Morris, 40, of Queens Bay, Betsy Hope, Tobago and Anil Gokool, 34, of La Romaine.

Morris’ death marred a boating regatta in the quiet eastern fishing village of Roxborough, in which he was piloting a racing boat which collided with a pirogue.

Morris, whose nickname was “Ragga”, captained the vessel G-Unit TFT 1690 which was heading west along the shoreline when he suddenly veered into the path of the pirogue, Teacher driven by Jason Alleyne.

In the collision the propeller of Alleyne’s vessel struck Morris, hitting him on the left side of his head causing extensive injuries and facial disfiguration. Morris was carried ashore by Alleyne and later rushed to the Scarborough General Hospital via an Emergency Health Service ambulance, however, he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Morris’ copilot, Akeelon Charles, 22, of New Street, Roxborough, sustained injuries to his right arm, but his injury was not life threatening and he was treated and discharged from the hospital.

Morris was the founder of the DJ group Audio Guys Sound System and has been described as a community based cultural icon by many.

In a Facebook post, police inspector and founder of the Roxborough Police Youth Club Collis Hazel hailed Morris as “a true diehard community activist, musician, boatman and entertainer.”

“One person who was responsible for the success of the Windward J’ouvert today is Ragga (Morris)...His level of dedication and honesty was admirable.”

The boating accident is said to have occurred at about 4.15 pm, during the annual Roxborough Fisherman Association’s Easter Regatta sports and family day, at approximately 400 metres from the shoreline.

Newsday attempted to contact the organisers for comment but up to press time this proved futile. Acting Corporal Sheppard and ASP Roberts of the Roxborough Police Station are continuing investigations.

Boating accidents have either led to serious injury or death in recent years.

In 2013, 14-year-old Lilly Adiel Blaides of Tacarigua suffered the same fate as Morris when she was ran over by a pirogue in Las Cuevas, Trinidad.

In Tobago, both Yannick Quesnel of Cascade and his friend, Carolina Barry-Laso, a Spanish national, were seriously injured when a boat sped over them while they were bathing at Pigeon Point on June 12, 2007. The duo has sought legal action.

In central Trinidad, Anil Gokool also suffered a sudden death when two cars crashed into him as he was changing a flat tyre on the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway on Easter Sunday night.

Gokool, 34, of Concord Road, La Romaine died while his brother Videsh, 37, who was helping him to change the flat tyre, escaped unhurt. their mother, Latchmin, 65, who was in the front passenger seat of their car, sustained whiplash. A police report stated that at about 6.50 pm, Videsh was driving on the south-bound lane of the highway in a white Honda Civic but upon nearing the popular Highway Roti Shop, in Freeport,the front right tyre blew out.

Videsh pulled onto the shoulder and he and Gokool proceeded to change the flat tyre. While they were doing so, a police vehicle stopped behind them to render assistance.

However, another vehicle, driven by a woman, slammed into Videsh’s car. Shortly after, a second vehicle, driven by a man, crashed into the woman’s car.

Gokool was rushed to the Couva Health Centre but was pronounced dead on arrival. Latchmin, a mother of six, and Videsh, were also rushed to the heath centre and were transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital where they were treated and discharged yesterday.

All three occupants were on their way home after attending prayers at the Divine Life Society temple at Chase Village, Chaguanas.

Police said the woman driver who crashed into Videsh’s car was also returning from a prayer service at the temple.

Yesterday, in recalling the incident, Latchmin said Videsh pointed a torchlight on the flat tyre while Gokool unscrewed the bolts. The police vehicle was parked behind their car.

Latchmin said, “Two vehicles came out of nowhere and crashed into them. I saw Videsh rolling over on the ground. On impact, Anil was pushed further in front of the car but was not moving. It happened so fast. Videsh got up and we tried to assist, but Anil was not responding. I called out to Anil over and over. All I could remember is calling Anil to see if he would respond. He never responded.” Gokool was the youngest of Latchmin’s children. Wearing a neck brace, Latchmin said, “We always go to ( Hindu) prayers all over the country and by relatives. Anil was such a loving person, very playful and childish. With his nephews and nieces, he acted as their age when he was with them. They called him Uncle Nil.” Videsh said while holding the torchlight for his brother to change the tyre, he saw a vehicle heading in their direction. “All I could have done was call out to Anil. The vehicle crashed into me and Anil. People were saying that the woman panicked because another police vehicle was proceeding behind her,” Videsh said.

The officers who had stopped to help the brothers were unhurt.

When investigating officers, Cpl Ganpath and PC Villafana, arrived on the scene they took statements from the woman driver, and the second male driver.

A post mortem is expected to be performed on Gokool’s body today. To date, there have been 33 road deaths.