Church Deacon killed in crash

ALTHOUGH he admits that at first he wished the man who was driving the car that killed his son Eddie Reid had died instead, grieving dad William Stewart has changed his mind and has placed the future in the hands of God. “God giveth and God taketh; we do not understand the ways of God, but we got to respect it, while accidents are quite unpredictable. “I have no remorse for the driver who killed my son, all I have is pity and prayers”. According to investigations, on Sunday night around 8.30,  Reid, 42, of No 40 Second Street, Mt D’or Road, Champs Fleurs was travelling west in a white Cressida along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway in the vicinity of the Prisons Sports Club, Arouca when Michael Gregoire, 36, of No 65 Warner Trace, Freeman Road, St Augustine, the driver of a Honda Civic car travelling east on the highway lost control, crossed the median and ploughed into Reid’s car pinning both men behind their respective steering wheels.

At the same time another car, a white station wagon driven by Winnie Mohammed, 30, of Olton Road, San Juan, also travelling west ran into the back of Reid’s car. The Fire Services were called in and, using the ‘Jaws of Life’ cut  the wrecked cars to remove both drivers, Gregoire and Reid. Mohammed walked away unharmed. Also in Reid’s car sitting in the back were his wife Ellen, 33, and daughter Ellene, 3. All four persons were rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where Eddie died on arrival, while Ellen and Gregoire were both treated and warded in a critical condition, while Ellene was released unscratched. Stewart described his son, a deacon at Mt Dor Seventh Day Adventist Church, Champs Fleurs as a deeply religious family oriented, community man loved by everybody as a ‘saltfish’ who will be sadly missed.

“He helped everyone, nothing was too much for him to do. The only thing that hurts me is when I visited the Arima Health Facility where Eddie’s wife and daughter were before they were transferred, I saw the other driver who kept vomiting while groaning”. Stewart explained “our family is very closely knit and large, and after visiting one another on special occasions like a birthday, wedding and similar occasions, we all normally leave together. “The only reason I was not behind, or in front of Eddie, is because I do not drive on the highway at nights. When we were leaving, Eddie who lives downstairs indicated he was right behind us.

“I reached home around nine and was a little concerned when I did not see him soon after. But it was not up until around 10 pm we received a call from a nurse to come and collect the family, that we knew something was wrong and it was when we reached the hospital that we learnt he had died”. Stewart, however expressed certain concerns — if the carnage on the roads are to be reduced, such as better lights, young people showing more consideration, lessening speed on the nation’s roadways and the none use of alcohol, especially when driving. Ironically, all the tickets had been bought for Eddie and his entire family to travel to Tobago yesterday for the celebrations of his grandmother’s 100th birthday at Speyside today. Following a post mortem today Eddie is expected to be buried on Thursday. Cpl Ali is continuing inquiries.