Apple vendor killed in crash

JOY and anticipation of a bright New Year for a New Grant family turned into wailing and mourning when their relative — a 30-year-old apple vendor — was killed instantly when his van crashed off the Solomon Hochoy Highway yesterday. Motilal Bansraj’s bloody corpse remained for sometime inside the mangled wreck of his Toyota Hilux while firemen had to use a hydraulic cutting machine to reach him. Bansraj of Busy Corner, Sister’s Road, New Grant died instantly when his van ran off the south-bound lane of the highway near Union Hall flyover and slammed into an electricity pole.

Motorists who saw the accident, told police the van sommersaulted before crashing into the electricity pole. The accident which occurred around 9.30 am was witnessed by Rasheeda Mohammed who lives nearby. The shaken woman said she was in her kitchen preparing breakfast when she heard the loud screeching of brakes. “When I heard the brakes I ran outside. I see the van flying through the air before slamming into the lamp post,” Mohammed told Newsday. District Medical Officer Dr Seelochan ordered the body removed to San Fernando Mortuary. Sgt Thongs of Mon Repos Police Station is investigating.