Man dies as pick-up plunges off San Fernando Bye-Pass

A MARABELLA father of one died instantly after the pick-up van he was driving, crashed through the iron railings of the San Fernando bye-pass and plunged 30-feet down, landing onto Cipero Road, early yesterday morning.

Police are working on reports that early morning drag racers may have been responsible for Brent Zephyrine, 33, of Second Street, Gopaul Lands, Marabella losing control of his pick-up. According to police reports around 12.30 am, Zephyrine was proceeding south along the Bye Pass, when the vehicle ran off the road, crashed  through the railings and landed on Cipero Road under the over pass. Nigel Cowan and his wife Ann Marie, who was also in the pick-up at the time of the incident, were said to be in stable condition at San Fernando General Hospital.

Zephyrine was married to Shivonne, 30, for the past nine years and the couple have a four-year-old daughter — Natasha. He was employed with the oil drilling company ENSCO Ltd. According to the victim’s father-in-law Razack Khan, 64, Zephyrine was driving a company vehicle which he had had for almost six weeks. Khan said Zephryine left home around 5 pm on Saturday for work in Port-of-Spain and while returning home, he picked up his two friends in Pleasantville. “He had been working almost round the clock since the company was setting up oil rigs in Guayaguayare. When he came back down he was taking his friends to get something to eat. We were informed that people were drag racing in the road and he tried to shift across out of their way when he ran off the road”. Khan said.

The victim’s family got a call around 1 am when they were told about the accident. Mon Repos police visited the scene along with DMO Dr Budhram who ordered the body removed to the San Fernando Mortuary, where an autopsy is expected to be done sometime today. Investigations are continuing.