KAMLA: SHARMA GETS THIRD LIFE

Sharma and his driver were kept at the hospital overnight for observation.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar later described his survival as a miracle and said he had received “a third life”.

Reports state that about 1.45 pm yesterday, Sharma was being driven in his black Toyota Prado SUV, when his driver, Anton Mitchell, overtook a line of vehicles and crashed into a white Mazda 323 car, which was turning into Lady Young Avenue. The Mazda was driven by Uri Diaz from Bagatelle Road, San Juan.

The Prado reportedly flipped several times and overturned, trapping Sharma and his driver inside. Sharma was said to have slipped in and out of consciousness a number of times.

With the assistance of other motorists and residents, Sharma and Mitchell were both taken out of the Prado, while officers from the Morvant police station were contacted. The officers responded immediately, securing Sharma and Mitchell until an ambulance arrived a short time later which took them both to the PoSGH where they underwent medical examinations. It is believed that Sharma was at the time heading to the weekly meeting of the national executive of the United National Congress (UNC) at Rienzi Complex in Couva.

Diaz and passengers in his car were reportedly unhurt. His car and the Prado were taken to the Morvant police station.

When Newsday arrived at the PoSGH at about 3 pm, Nicole Dyer-Griffith, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Communications confirmed that doctors had attended to Sharma. She said the minister had undergone x-rays, and was about to have a CT scan.

“He is resting comfortably although they are conducting standard procedures. He is not on the ward and we are waiting on the outcome of the scan,” Dyer-Griffith said.

Responding to questions on the status of Mitchell, Dyer-Griffith said it was standard procedure for all accident victims to be warded for observation overnight.

“Seeing that Minister Sharma is warded it is more than likely that Mitchell is also,” Dyer-Griffith said. Minister of Health Dr Fuad Khan later arrived and confirmed to Newsday that Sharma suffered soft tissue injury to his neck and ankles, but was stable and resting comfortably.

Dr Rai Ragbir, who treated Sharma, later said Sharma had no broken bones, but had a sprained right ankle. A short time later, Sharma was wheeled out of the radiology department on a stretcher to the Accident and Emergency Department. The left side of his forehead was heavily bandaged and he appeared to be in a dazed state. Sharma’s personal assistant, Hema Ramdeen, said he was resting comfortably.

Later yesterday evening at Rienzi Complex, fellow drivers for UNC officials reported that following the accident Mitchell was able to talk, although he was a bit delirious.

Mitchell was described by his colleagues as a very experienced driver, who has worked with Sharma for several years.

Minister of Labour, Errol Mc Leod, Minister of Housing and the Environment, Dr Roodal Moonilal, House Speaker Wade Mark, Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Collin Partap and Medical Chief of Staff at the PoSGH Dr Colin Furlonge were all at the PoSGH lending support to Sharma.

Persad-Bissessar then arrived at the hospital at about 4.28 pm.

She told reporters Sharma had a slight abrasion on his left cheek and he had sprained his ankle but assured he was fine.

“He needs to rest right now, so many people are pouring into this hospital compound having heard this news, I want to give the assurance that we have spoken to him, he is in very good sprits,” she said.

Persad-Bissessar said she told Sharma he now has a third life and he should use it well since this was the second time he has been in an accident. Sharma was involved in an accident on July 30, 1994 at Rivulet Road in Couva.

“I said to him he now has a third life, he had his original life when he was in an accident some years ago, that was his second life, he now has a third life and (should) use it well. I thank God, this is another miracle. I am advised that the vehicle is totally written off, I have not seen it myself, both he and the driver are fine and we say thank God for that,” she said.

(Over the weekend, Persad-Bissessar had described as a miracle the survival of all 163 passengers and crew of a Caribbean Airlines flight which crashed in Guyana on Saturday).

Persad-Bissessar said she was at her home in Philippine, south Trinidad when she first got the news about the accident.

“I was at home, we were laughing and joking and then my sister came to me and said, ‘I know you are a person who likes to know things and I must tell you because if I don’t tell you, you would say why did you not tell me.’ She said the minister has been in a serious car accident.

At that point we did not know any details except the word serious accident. I was very traumatised by hearing that,” she disclosed.

She described Sharma as one of the Government’s best MPs and a very caring person.

“That is why you would see from now until he is discharged, you would see the number of persons flooding into the hospital trying to see him. I was traumatised by hearing it as I would for any of my ministers, it was hard. I am very gratified now having seen him and spoken to him that all is well,” she said.

When asked about the other vehicle that was involved in the accident, she said she would prefer those details come from the driver and eyewitnesses.

“I am advised that another vehicle was involved, I would prefer those details come from the driver and eyewitnesses, but I am also advised that persons in the other vehicle they have not sustained injury and their vehicle is not as damaged as the vehicle that the minister was in,” she said.

Persad-Bissessar also praised Laventille East/Morvant MP Donna Cox for her assistance after the accident occurred.

“I am advised that MP Donna Cox was very concerned and very helpful at the scene and we want to say thank you to her,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dr Ragbir said Sharma would “most likely” be discharged today as it was just standard observation for him to stay overnight.