Soldier killed on way to wedding reception

Dead is Cpl Marvin Ashton Solomon, 31, of Thompson Trace, Laventille Road, Morvant.

According to reports, after dropping off a guest from a friend’s wedding reception, Solomon was returning to D Club at Chagville to continue the celebrations when he lost control, hit two lamp posts and then an embankment before stopping close to a WASA pumping station.

Fire Service officers were called in and had to cut the crushed man out of the vehicle. He suffered several injuries to his head, stomach and body.

Visiting the scene was Dr Chai Hong who ordered the body removed to the Forensic Science Centre for autopsy today.

Investigators believe it was a case of speeding and tiredness which led to the father of one losing control of the vehicle.

When Newsday visited the family’s Thompson Trace home, his sister June Solomon described her youngest brother as "simply wonderful."

"My brother was simply a wonderful human being who cared about those around him. One of his ambitions was to get all the boys off the street and prepare them to get into the army and away from crime.

"He would simply show them all that was necessary and even help them along the way to get into the army. He was a good person and despite the short life he lived, he lived well.

"His loss is a tremendous one and he could never be replaced."

June, however denied that her brother’s death could be related to speeding.

"He was an excellent driver. His girlfriend lived at Manzanilla and almost every day he would drive up there, never an accident."

His father Bobby Solomon, who referred to the dead corporal as his friend was too traumatised to speak, but his shocked mother Esme Solomon called for some explanation.

"Up to now we have heard nothing from the police. All we know is that he hit a lamp post, if it was a ‘bad drive’ or something else we do not know.

"Right now I do not know what to do with this loss. I just cannot cope."

Holding back the tears Allison Sookram, girlfriend of the dead soldier described him as the most wonderful person you could have ever met. Solomon had been a soldier for the last nine years.