1 killed in four-car smash-up

According to reports, at about 6.30 pm, Marcano was heading east along the highway when another car driven by Mustak Muhammad, which was heading west reportedly crossed the median and crashed head-on into Marcano’s car.

The taxi driver’s car reportedly spun out of control, hitting two other cars in the east bound lane before stopping in the middle of the highway.

Fire tenders from San Juan and the Wrightson Road Headquarters were first on the scene within minutes, and discovered that Marcano’s car had four other occupants.

Two men and two women were rescued and sent to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital while Marcano remained trapped in his car and had to be cut from the vehicle by fire officers who used the "jaws of life" to remove him from the mangled wreck.

Muhammad, of Main Road, Couva, also remained trapped in his car and had to be cut from the vehicle which lay across the median.

His companion, Amanda Vishnu, was rescued by onlookers and taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Up to press time, her condition was listed as serious. Fire officers spent over 45 minutes cutting Muhammad out of his vehicle.

The drivers of the other two vehicles involved in the smash-up escaped unhurt. They are Vichy Sharma and Khymo Haynes.

PC Lavier of the Barataria Police Station is continuing investigations.