Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:15 hours 11 min ago
Fiery death for three on Bailey bridge
Published: 6 Nov 2009
Repair work is being done at the Bailey bridge in Macoya after the fatal accident yesterday. Photo: Dilip Singh
Three men lost their lives when a truck exploded, shortly after 1 am, after crashing into the Bailey bridge along the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway, Macoya, early yesterday morning. The victims have been identified as Penal residents Rohan “Bobby” Maharaj, 35, Kishore Kumar, 30, and Anil Mohammed, 30. Police said within the past two weeks, six people have lost their lives along the highway between the Bailey bridge and the Piarco intersection. There have now been four deaths occurring in accidents on the bridge this year.
Officers remain uncertain as to which one of the victims was driving the vehicle at the time of the incident. Police said the truck was proceeding at top speed, east along the highway, when it slammed into the bridge. Two of the bodies were found outside the vehicle while the third was on the dashboard of the truck, police said. Sgt Garcia, of the Tunapuna Police Station, is investigating. After the accident, the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway, between Macoya and the Orange Grove intersection, was closed to vehicular traffic because of severe damage to the bridge.
The accident was reminiscent of the collapse last year of the regular bridge on the same spot, because of heavy rains, which caused bumper-to-bumper traffic along the Eastern Main Road, Priority Bus Route and the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway, as motorists sought alternative routes. Motorists also were temporarily allowed to use the PBR between Macoya and Orange Grove, during rush hour. Yesterday, between the Macoya and Orange Grove intersection, police converted the west-bound lane into two-way traffic.
The damaged bridge was expected to be repaired late last night and reopened today. Work also was being conducting on the new bridge, which is estimated to cost $25 million, sources said. The Bailey bridge was installed days after the older bridge collapsed on November 17 last year after torrential rain and flooding. The new bridge, to replace the damaged Bailey bridge, is expected to be completed by the first week in December, in time for the Christmas season, officials said.
Personal responsibility is
Personal responsibility is the key here. Sometimes these dazzling new trucks, complete with mag wheels and chrome galore, come at you on the highway and if you don't clear the way you will surely be dead. To move a bridge and explode, this driver must have been pressing the accelerator to the floor. Just speculation, since I wasn't there. Add speed to the weight of the truck and it's no surprise the bridge shifted on impact. No one deserves to die in such a horrific way, but from the media reports it appears that the driver was responsible for his untimely demise and that of his innocent passengers. So don't go blaming the bridge or the police for the accident. Drivers must take personal responsibility for their actions. Unfortunately, innocent passengers died too. Condolences.
ajfyzabadbutlertown
My Goodness! I saw the burnt
My Goodness!
I saw the burnt out shell of the truck on my way to Piarco yesterday afternoon and I couldn't believe what I saw.
These truck drivers (heavy and extra heavy) need to be more sensitive to the killing power that they wield.
I see them swerving in and out of traffic as if they're driving a sports car most times, as they hustle to make that quota of trips, with no regard to anyone else.
I think that the police did a great job yesterday evening in redirecting and controlling the traffic in that area, but they should be more visible all the time.
Christmas and Carnival Season fast approaching, so on top of the hustlers on the roads, we are now saddled with intoxicated and sleepy drivers, I wish that the Acting CoP and his team can do something to make motorists feel a sense of comfort on the roads.
http://dsaltsman.blogspot.com/
It is very sad that those
It is very sad that those guys lost their lives the way they did.
It is time now that they realize either the Bailey Bridge, its installation, or the cautions lights and reflectors placed there may not have been done properly or may be insufficient due to the frequent accidents that occur their.
With due respect, I think
With due respect, I think that the only solution is to put a concrete separator along that entire roadway from the Macoya traffic lights, all the way up to the bridge until it is properly repaired/replaced.
People just do not heed the signs, blinking lights or even the solid lines on the road.
When I did my driving test
When I did my driving test some 25 years ago, one of the questions asked was "Who is responsible for most accidents on the road?" and the answer is the driver. Almost everyday on the highways there is some change due to road repair etc. As drivers we should know that and not assume that everything is as we left it yesterday. If we know that we are approaching a bridge, then we should slow down just in case something has changed. Somehow I believe that if the vehicle was proceding at a slower speed, the impact would not have been as deadly.
Someone just sent me this
Someone just sent me this link:
http://img688.imageshack.us/slideshow/webplayer.php?id=img8408.jpg
It has been some time since
It has been some time since this bridge was washed away. Are Bailey bridges the permanent solution? We have money for flags and private concert hall for the emperor. What is the plan to permanently replace the bridge...speak up Colm!!!
Let's rename it the
Let's rename it the "Imbecile Imbert Bridge" and erect a large Trinidad Flag to celebrate our National Pride in being a Third World Country. Probably an unlit bridge on one of the busiest Highways. Also, apparently no one was wearing seat belts. We should have National Pride in being a "lawless society" with no value for human life.
Come on Colm, you are the
Come on Colm, you are the Minister i/c, lets hear you, in a country with petro$ and building concert halls and big macco buildings, and 3 storey hotel at PM Emperor residence, ok tell me you cant find a CHinese gang to make permanent big steel and concrete bridge? and you making steel and concrete in TT? COME ON Imbert, do you want Shanghai cg to give you a quote? he is coming soon to TT, Let him build the bridge. Imbert you like debate you should have been a political scientist. THis is a non descript job really, best go back to mech engr build the car engines.
The bridge has nothing to do
The bridge has nothing to do with it. But the speeding has everything to do with it. Once again, stop the F*****ing speeding!!!
Are you serious???? This
Are you serious???? This incident was caused by these men, not the minister!! Everyone knows the caution taken i.e. at least slowing down when passing over it! Now, what does Imbert have to do with this carelessness??? Thank God no innocent drivers had to pay the price also for their reckless actions.
The responsibility lies with these 3 unfortunate men themselves. My condolences to the family on this very tragic event, however, they have no businees trying to put the blame on others!!
I do agree that concrete pillars should be installed to separate north and southbound lanes in the event some idiot speeding swerves into the incoming traffic, the pillars will prevent this.
That bridge has adequate
That bridge has adequate lighting but we must always retain the ability to blame someone else . They were speeding in the road as that is what people here do traffic They speed and weave in and out and when there is no traffic it is worse. I suppose the bridge jumped up and bit them
I blame the Police for the
I blame the Police for the loss of these lives. It is generally agreed that the driver was speeding and this would have been so along the Hochoy and Butler Highways. But where in Heaven's name were our Highway Patrols? Do we have any, and if so where and when are they on duty? Come on Ag. CoP Philbert, please investigate this one.
I don't think waynejohn is
I don't think waynejohn is serious about his question "But where in Heaven's name were our Highway Patrols?" If he is, does he expect the highway police to be everywhere and at 5:00 am? What about if we blame PM Manning, or probably Basdeo Panday and don't forget the Minister of Works and Transport. Why not blame all the citizens of T&T for not being at the bridge to guide the driver safely over.
The only blessing in this
The only blessing in this situation is that the only people that were affected were the people in the truck....Thank God that this accident occurred at that hour of the morning....if it happened later there may have been even more casualties and maybe more fatalities.....
These men were liming before they set out on their journey...were they also intoxicated?....
It is obvious from the photos that the truck was going at a greater than normal speed over that bridge....no one else is responsible for this gruesome turn of events...how can you blame the minister, and in the case of the father of one of the dead men, the bridge....Did the bridge come alive and crash into the truck?...what a pack of rot...steups....