Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:13 hours 42 min ago
Boy, 6, killed in car blast...
Cops plan to lay charges
Published: 2 Nov 2009
Anthony Ramkhalawan, whose son Christopher
was burnt to death in a car explosion.
Photo: RISHI RAGOONATH
Anthony Ramkhalawan could see his son trapped in the middle of their burning car after it crashed over a bridge in Caroni along the Old Southern Main Road, early yesterday. But although he could see him, Ramkhalawan could not save him, as the car blew up, and six-year-old Christopher Ramkhalawan was burnt to death. In an interview yesterday, Ramkhalawan said he could still hear his son’s torturous screams: “Daddy! Daddy! Help me; help me!” Ramkhalawan said he clawed through smoke and fire, hoping to save his son, but it was all in vain. Two hours after the explosion, Christopher’s charred remains were removed from the burnt-out shell of the car. His grandfather Gunnessdath Chaitram said the dismembered body resembled pieces of burnt wood. Police said Christopher’s body was blasted apart in the explosion, which left Ramkhalawan nursing burns to his back, feet, arms and shoulders.
Investigators said the accident occurred around 2 am, close to Trantril Road in Caroni. Police believe Ramkhalawan was driving, while his friend, Rishi Capildeo, was sitting in the back seat. Christopher was in the front. Recalling the tragedy, Ramkhalawan said they were proceeding along a bridge close to Trantrill Road, when a green Sunny suddenly rammed into them. “I remember when the car hit me. My car ended up at the side of the river. I was knocked out for a few seconds, but then my friend passed over me and I realised the car was on fire,” Ramkhalawan recalled. As the flames grew bigger, Ramkhalawan said he quickly crawled through the window and landed on his head. “That was when I hear my son bawling. I tried to get to him, but there were flames to the door.” Ramkhalawan could see Christopher trapped inside. “I looked inside and I saw him. I could hear him bawling out, but I could do nothing.
I was trying to run through the fire to pull him out, but my shirt catch up in the fire. “The car was on the top edge of the bridge, wheels down. Then it exploded and I could still hear him.” He said the death had left him shaken and traumatised. The distraught father said he had planned a fun weekend for Christopher as they intended to go to the beach. Aunt Denise Rooplal said Christopher lived with his mother, Asha Chaitram, who separated from Ramkhalawan when Christopher was just six months old. Ramkhalawan won visitation rights to spend weekends with Christopher. Rooplal explained that Ramkhalawan picked up Christopher from his mother’s home at Longdenville on Friday afternoon and planned to spend the weekend with him. Chaitram was too distraught to speak yesterday. Christopher was an only child and was well loved by all the residents of Lily Trace. Meanwhile, police said they planned to lay charges after investigations into the accident. An autopsy will be done on Christopher’s remains today. Caroni police are continuing investigations.
My condolences to the
My condolences to the family, could only imagine what that father is going through hearing his son scream for help, and being helpless to do anything. Hope someone recommends some kind of therapy for him. Ah does always wonder wey dem Trini's does be going with all ah dat speeeed???
"Meanwhile, police said they
"Meanwhile, police said they planned to lay charges after investigations into the accident."
It is predecisional for police to state beforehand that they are going to lay charges after the investigation. What if the car was actually hit from behind as claimed? What if the vehicle is a defective Japanese lemon as is the case with every other car in T&T? It seems that the police have already concluded that it is the fathers fault without even doing preliminary inquiries.
Did you see the damage of
Did you see the damage of the other car involved, it's an old model nissan sunny and guess where the damage is, it's on the driver's side, no front impact. How could someone have hit him and not sustain any damage to the front.
No - I didn't see the
No - I didn't see the picture of the cars. I can only see the picture of the well nourished man above with the bandages on his face and back.
You too are being
You too are being presumptious........ no one said that it was the father that was going to be charged. The possibility exists that it was the driver of the other car that was at fault.
T&T Still A Paradise
Come on Mr Wilson. What sort
Come on Mr Wilson. What sort of shoddy headline you put on an article that is so far off from what you make it out to be? Did you not learn language skills in school?
One line, and one line only, in a whole article, relates to this headline.
Jumbie's Watch
My heartfelt sympathy goes
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to this family.
What a very sad and horrible way for anyone to loose their life.
The driver of the other car should be locked up and the keys thrown in the sea.
Alot of Trinis can't
Alot of Trinis can't drive.
First of all, are people still being able to purchase their licences from crocked licencing officers. Secondly, are the roads in TnT still legalizing pot holes with white paint and finally, is WASA still digging up freshly paved roads. These are just SOME of the factors that lead to the carnage on the roads. The other factor is just indicipline by society. Alot of people just don't care and this attitude along with simple mistakes causes lives to be lost. If we continue at this rate the deaths will not stops.
My concern here, after
My concern here, after seeing the news story where it was reported that the guys were out liming at 2am is, what the hell was that child doing there?
At 2am, all children are supposed to be safely tucked away in their beds.
This was a truly heart
This was a truly heart breaking incident and my condolences go out to the parents of Christopher. Being a father myself I could just imagine what this dad had to endure hearing his son calling out for help and then seeing him die.
Whatever the circumstances that led to this accident the end result was very tragic - and maybe bloggers should keep this in mind.
A preliminary investigation
A preliminary investigation should be conducted before any charges could be laid Did the police check for sobriety? Did the police detect any signs of speeding? Were it an accident or negligence on the drivers? Why was the young boy not asleep at home? Perhaps if the toddler didn't have his seat belt on he would have tossed out of the car and perhaps die also. Speed will probably be a contributing factor here. If the cars were moving at 40mph probably there won't be an explosion or any serious impact. So there are many unanswered question before the police could pass judgement.
2am in de
2am in de Morning...............
Epsomsalts give them another dose man.....
What that child doing liming 2am in de morning?
This well nourished man has just given us a good example of how NOT to do it
jp
Driving out with his good
Driving out with his good friend at 2am, How much alcohol was present in the two friends body? I can bet you, they was Drinking.
Hindu family values at work
Hindu family values at work here?
You have got to be the most
You have got to be the most destructive and foolish idiot there is! If you are a black man like me - I am just speechless and ashamed of your utter stupidity and destructiveness!
Just what is your definition of Hindu values?
Unfortunate use of words
Unfortunate use of words here
Even though the statistics may point to a particular trend, your choice of words is indeed unfortunate. It is not so much a matter of "Hindu" family values. A lot of crash victims/perpetrators may not actually be Hindu... have you considered that?
Idiot a child is dead and
Idiot a child is dead and the rubbish that people talk is all you can think of. A CHILD WAS BURNT TO DEATH, Good God where is your compassion?
It seems like central
It seems like central Trinidad is awash in drunk drivers, its quite easy to see why them uncers always mashing up their cars on roads into each other etc, its quite possible that the Cops will charge him with a DUI.
In just about every car
In just about every car crash story, you hardly ever hear about the driver passing out, not that it's impossible. But here you have TWO occupants passing out - well, at least so it seems. One was "passed out" and the other did not seem to be conscious long enough to do anything to help the child until both "awoke" sometime after. One wonders if the flames on the man's shirt could have been what awakened him from his stupor. What is the story of the other man? What was Rishi Capildeo doing all the while? Were they both in a stupor after the crash? It appears another accident where alcohol may be involved, AGAIN, whether it is from the car that hit them, or they themselves, or BOTH cars. It is very easy to remain unconscious once in a drunken state, but all this is just a perception in this particular case. At any rate, why the hell is a 6 year-old on the road at 2am? One would be interested to hear the side from the doctor who examined the father. And what of Rishi Capildeo? Has he gotten his story to sync with the driver? I was not there so I cannot pass judgement, but the entire episode sounds curious - tragically so... a 6 year old is no longer with us, and someone is responsible.
Six years old liming with
Six years old liming with two grown men at 2am.
What was he thinking. My six year old is in bed at 8pm for the latest. Guess he was trying to teach his son a valuable lesson of how to lime with the boys. You bleeping moron you should have died in dat fire not the innocent kid. I'm so sick of these fools who think taking de kid for a drive at 2am is cool. Damn you a-hole.
Stop the f *****ing
Stop the f *****ing speeding, and driving drunk!!!!!!!!
My sincere condolence to the
My sincere condolence to the parents of this child, that father will now need counselling.
But I have to ask what parent has a small child out in the late night at 2am? Parents in Trinbago what is the problems with you and your children in a cars.
It seems to me that we the people only holler when a trajedy like this happens. Last Sunday afternoon I saw a car waiting for someone and sitting in the front seat was a "MOTHER" with a lively little girl aged about five sitting on her, that car took off at speed with the child hanging out the window, with a good time of laughter and music being enjoyed by all.
The mindset of the people is in need of change and no government on the face of this earth can change that. That was child endangerment. What happened to that child would be punishable in all sane countries wether the parent was grieving or not, 2am all children should be asleep. That poor child did not deserve that death.