SISTERS DIE IN CRASH

Relatives of the women, who only on Sunday came together to celebrate La Barrie’s son Johnathan’s nuptials were yesterday in tears too shocked to comprehend the fact they must now plan the sisters’ funerals.

La Barrie, 54, died at the scene of the accident while Daniel, 43, died minutes later while en route to hospital. Warded, both in serious condition, are police officers WPC Williams-Harden and Cpl Lloyd Brown.

According to a police report, at about 10.30 pm, La Barrie was driving her car along Antigua Road with Daniel as the front seat passenger. They had just left Sangre Grande after dropping off wares that were rented for the wedding on Sunday.

Both women were heading to their respective homes in La Horquetta.

Without warning, police reported, La Barrie lost control of the car which swerved onto the opposite lane and struck an oncoming Toyota Corolla car before ramming into a pick-up truck containing the two police officers. A report was made to police and ambulances were despatched to the scene.

La Barrie’s car was so badly mangled that firemen had to cut through the twisted metal to extricate the sisters. Weeping relatives told Newsday that the sisters were devout Jehovah’s Witness followers and attended service at the Kingdom Halls in Arima and La Horquetta.

“They touched a lot of lives and made many friends in this life,” said a relative. “My aunt (Daniel) learned sign language and taught it to other members of the church. She also preached our religion to the deaf using her knowledge of sign language.

The family is rocked hard by this.

“There are others in our family who suffered heart attacks and other medical problems but are still here. We never expected these strong, vibrant women leave us and in such a manner.” Funeral arrangements are ongoing with relatives living overseas expected to return by the end of this week to attend the service.