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.
