Erin man killed, 3 seriously hurt

A RECKLESS piece of driving,  according to police, yesterday caused a three-vehicle smash-up along South Trunk Road, La Romaine, leaving one driver dead and three other persons seriously injured and hospitalised. Gary Worrell, 42, of St Francis Village, Erin, died on the spot while the injured persons who were unidentified up to press time, were said to be receiving emergency treatment at San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH). According to police reports, around midday, Worrell was driving his grey Cressida in a westerly direction when he overtook a Toyota Corolla, in the vicinity of Mosquito Creek.

A white panel van, with three occupants, heading in the opposite direction, swerved across the other lane to avoid colliding with Worrell’s car and slammed into a concrete post. Worrell lost control of his vehicle which crashed into the panel van, while the Corolla, driven by Albert Briggs, 52, of Rancho Quemado, crashed into Worrell’s car. Firemen from Mon Repos fire station had to use a hydraulic cutting machine known as the ‘jaws of life’ to cut through the mangled wreck of the panel van to free the driver and two occupants, who were subsequently taken to the SFGH for emergency treatment and possibly surgery. Praising God that he was still alive, a clearly shaken Briggs recalled the incident  to Newsday saying, “I stick out my hand and was warning the driver (Worrell) to be careful. Then two seconds later, that was it.” Visiting the scene yesterday were a party of officers from San Fernando Traffic Branch including Sgt Parasram, Cpls Jaikienanan and Wolffe. The latter is continuing investigations.