Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:13 hours 20 min ago
Mosquito Creek crash claims two more lives
Published: 17 Aug 2009
The death toll in Saturday’s vehicular crash at Mosquito Creek climbed higher yesterday, as two more victims succumbed to their injuries at San Fernando General Hospital. Five people have now died as a result of the accident. Rajkumar Deonarine, 15, a student of Siparia East Secondary School, died around 9.30 pm on Saturday, in the arms of his mother Tricia Deonarine. Half an hour later, Rishi Ramlochan, 22, died on Ward 8 of the hospital.
His mother Geeta Gangapersad said Ramlochan suffered broken legs, massive chest and head injuries and two punctured lungs. Sobbing quietly at her St John’s Road, South Oropouche, home, Deonarine said Rajkumar was her only son: “I want justice for this…My child died innocently.” Up to late yesterday, three of the victims—Roger Ramkissoon, 14, Videsh Ramsaran, 18, and van driver Balram Heeralal, 46, were warded in critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital.
Another victim, four-year-old Darsan Maharaj, was transferred to Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope, where he was said to be in a stable condition. Maharaj’s father Mahindra Maharaj, 41, of Titu Hill, Oropouche, was warded in serious condition at Ward 8. Relatives said he suffered a broken neck. Three of the victims—Ian Singh, 41, Shivanand Singh, 16, and Darson Goolcharan, 36, of Ralph Narine Trace, South Oropouche—were discharged from the hospital.
During an interview yesterday, Goolcharan said he was lucky to be alive. He said he was sitting in the left front passenger seat when tragedy struck.
Goolcharan denied that the van was parked at the roadside when the truck slammed into it. He recalled: “We were driving on the road but I didn’t see the truck. We were playing music and singing. Everybody was happy and the next moment, I was on the ground and bodies were all over me.” Another survivor Ian Singh held on to his son’s hands as he recalled the tragedy.
Singh said he took his two sons—Shivanand and Sachin—on the excursion to the Queen’s Park Oval because they all loved cricket. He said he saw the truck swerve off the lane and come in front of the maxi. “Nobody gave him a bad drive…He just swing off and hit us,” he said. “When the crash occurred, the back of the van flew open and my son and a few others fell out into the sea.” He said his son Sachin was in the water and within a minute he was pulled out. However, he died on the spot.
With his head bent, Singh said Sachin wanted to become a fireman. “He used to love to see the trucks…He always used to say that,” he wept. Meanwhile, relatives of Videsh Ramsaran prayed at home that he would pull through. Wiping her swolen eyes, his mother Asha Ramsaran said, “I will keep faith and pray that he lives.” She said minutes after the crash, she found out about it and called her son. “He told me that he was in the accident and that he was in the ambulance,” Asha cried.
'Runaway Truck' .... yeah
'Runaway Truck' .... yeah right!
Unless and until we start jailing motorists for dangerous and reckless driving, these incidents will continue. Every day we see trucks (and cars) driving in a dangerous manner..... where are the non existent police?
Citizens will soon take the law into their own hands if we continue to behave in this reckless manner.
Trinidad Drift... Drivers
Trinidad Drift...
Drivers cutting in and out of traffic in an indiscreet manner, posing danger to everyone around them, is how "Drifting" is described by road users. Not only do motorbikes, maxis, taxis and other cars do it, but also fully loaded trucks hustling to make their quota of trips. I see it ever single day in the east west corridor, moreso on the highways, where, even if there's a police vehicle, nothing is done.
How much more collateral damage is to take place Mr Acting Commissioner of Police, before you are to direct your traffic branch to come out of the office and spend time on the roads?
It is so deeply entrenched now that even in the midst of police stations, there are drivers who break the law, knowing fully well that the police are not coming out to charge anyone.
Please do something Mr Acting Commissioner. Do not wait until the new trend of "road rage" hits sweet Trinidad and Tobago. Drifting is already here...
http://dsaltsman.blogspot.com/
'Shore of Death' may be a
'Shore of Death' may be a good name for that one or 2 kilometres of road beginning, and oftentimes 'ending' at the cremation site named 'Shore of Peace'Peter paying for Paul.
I'm quite familiar with that stretch of beautful shoreline road. The Works Ministry (take a bow Mr Imbert) has done a lot to prevent accidents. For instance, they have set up steel barriers near the Godineau Bridge to hold back out of control vehicles from plunging into the river, they have 'corrugated' the middle of the road so when a driver strays dangerously into the middle of the road his vehicle vibrates unconfortably, they have put up signs. But, clearly, it's careless driving that's causing the accidents.
You drive there errant driving cannot escape you: some drunk and busy truck drivers, maxitaxi drivers bad driving and overtaking on the left and right side, youthman with plenty bling maxing out the gas pedal, drunk drivers, drivers with drugs in their head, sleepy drivers, novice drivers. Many simply overtake the long line of traffic with absolutely no care for others.
The innocent are killed by dangerous drivers. Look at the faces of those young people who died and I'm sure you'll feel some rage.
I don't think the Ministry of Works could do anything more to prevent accidents on the Creek. Appealing to drivers to be careful has failed miserably. There are always the few who will 'take a chance' and 'bad drive' in their quest to get nowhere quickly.
The only way to minimize this wanton carnage on the Creek is by having police be there 24/7 and having the Courts of law impose stricter penalties for careless driving.
Instead of fighting who should be leader, parliamentarians need to sit down on their behinds and make laws such as the points system that take away careless drivers' licences as well as impose heavy insurance costs to their vehicles, in addition to making compulsory defensive driving classes an absolute necessity.But that's the subject of another discussion.
ajfyzabadbutlertown
I don't know why the police
I don't know why the police allow these truck drivers to get away with reckless driving, it is seen blatantly on the highways, now 5 people dead, the truck driver is charged for obscene language, such is the character of this man, he couldn't even help the victims, I hope the police do the right thing and charge him for manslaughter....
BLAME CULTURE!!!!!!!!! Are
BLAME CULTURE!!!!!!!!!
Are we a society of blame for it gets us no where fast, until the facts of the accident are established we should not prejudged . The cause of the accident will be determined by the relevant authorities,what we must hope for is, in a reasonable time,all stakeholders such as drivers, witnesses and employer are investigated by the police service, OSHA Agency and Insurance Company and the results of the investigation published in the media by the stipulated authorities.We all must ensure that the preventative measures outlined in the investigation are implemented and followed by all parties.We as citizens must hold the authorities/ministries accountable for their failures or omissions, if we cant do this in a civilized way then we need new laws or better representatives
My heartfelt condolences to
My heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died and those injured.
The whole system of driving needs overhauling. Someone suggested a points system where drivers lose their licence after x number of 'points'. The thing is, could something like that work in Trinbago? I mean, aren't there people driving a) without a licence and b) with no insurance? If they have a licence to lose through 'points', what is to stop them from getting behind the wheel of a car in any event after losing it?
Perhaps prison, with hard labour is the way to go to get the message across. To paraphrase a saying that I saw inconnection with guns - cars do not kill; it is the people driving them who kill.
I wonder if the van was fitted with seatbelts and the passengers were wearing them, could some of the fatalities/injuries have been prevented? Some countries have brought in legal requirements that passengers must be belted up. I know it is too late for those from last weekend, but perhaps it may help for the future?
La Diva
http://uncnothingyet.ning.com
http://uncnothingyet.ning.com/video/de-creek-flood-again-july-09
How much more have to die before they fix the Creek
www.uncnothingyet.ning.com
Drivers' attitude need
Drivers' attitude need fixing, not necessarily the Creek.
Ryan4party, I hold no brief for Mr Imbert, but there's nothing, in my view, to fix in the Mosquito Creek that will prevent accidents like those.
I drive on this road almost everyday and can tell you something about drivers' attitude. On mornings from as early as 6.30 on schooldays there's traffic jam sometimes as far as Oropouche Roundabout near Well Sevices, so speeding is not a factor. On evenings it's pretty much the same, but from the opposite direction -from Sando. Many drivers in a hurry overtake wantonly.
At night, the road is clear, so some drivers max out the pedal and sometimes run in to Godineau Bridge adjacent to the cremation site, simply because they can't negotiate the bend while driving at that ridiculously fast rate.
Impatient drivers of all vehicles: maxi taxis, taxis, private cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles are all at fault.
Cremations also cause a problem. At around midday, there's usually a huge jam-up on account of mourners dropping out of vehicles, crossing the road as well as a general slowing down of mourners' and other vehicles. Again, the impatient drivers who overtake long traffic lines create a hazard.
Yes, sea water splashing onto the roadway during rough seas create a hazard, but, by and large, it's mostly poor driving attitudes that cause accident.
The solution: Implement the Highway plan and dual the Southern Main from Bamboo Junction along the Creek straight down to Point Fortin. In the meantime, continuous police patrols, day and night with revolving lights, may reduce the carnage.
ajfyzabadbutlertown
amirjairam You are correct.
amirjairam You are correct. The Driving attitude in this country is disgusting. Anyone reading this can tell you that. A simple thing as waiting for someone to give you a pass on to a main road you have to wait for ages. It's disgusting I have that happen to me EVERY live long day...
Driver, Road, Police all
Driver, Road, Police all need fixing, how much mad driving going on you telling me the police don’t see it, the Ministers see it every day on their way to and from work, the Creek road also needs to be fix and need to enforce stricter guide lines for all them best drivers.
Forgot to say the Highway plan is long overdue, they fixing the Creek and La Brea road since I was a child, 20 years later, still the same, also when the road get water from the sea and swamp at times, it leaves a lots of deposits that we don’t see when driving, when mixed with other conditions (oil, diesel, rain, sun) it is a receipt for disaster! Then another thing ever young driver in Trinidad and Tobago from the time they get their license they think it is the fast and furious. Now you see them Taxi and Maxi they done know they can`t pass some of the cars on the road, but they still trying, you know how much times on the creek I see them taxi drivers almost crash for that, but the PH boys is the worst, them think they working, so everybody have to wait, no one but them busy.
I have stood in the police station at gasparillo and heard two police talking about a man that just speed by with a motorcycle, one police said to the other, I know he, don’t worry he have a case in court, so he dead on the road or go to jail, but I guess the police not worried about the innocent people he kill when he crash.
I would never forget the day I went to a funeral at the Creek and when it was over I was standing at the top of the hill looking at the people going down the hill, when I saw this old lady trying to cross street got hit and killed on the spot, how much people have to die before they fix it, that is all I am saying with my one sentence, it’s too much work to type some of this on a blackberry keyboard……
I think the PSC should
I think the PSC should consider the removal of Ag Commissioner Philbert. After every incident of carnage of the roads he is there with the same speeches namely drivers have to be more careful and we will increase police resources and activities on the road.If he knew that his job was on the line for not having continuous police presence on the heavy accident spots you would see how things would have been different.But he knows that he can give a few words of concern and things would be back to normal soon.The PSC and the other relevant authorities have to change the culture of nonperformance in T&T.Results are what counts .Would drivers speed or drive drunk if they know there is a high probability of being caught?As for the Breathalysler Minister Imbert should be in sort of jail for his slackness in this regard.Heaven help us in T&T
Run the "Gauntlet", that is
Run the "Gauntlet", that is what you do driving on the road in Trinbago.
Run the "Gauntlet", that is
Run the "Gauntlet", that is what you do driving on the road in Trinbago.