Thursday July 29th, 2010
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Four close friends die in Manzanilla crash
Published: 18 Jan 2010
Four friends lost their lives in a vehicular accident on the Manzanilla Main Road early yesterday morning. Rikki Balroop, 23, an employee at the Ministry of Energy; Rickson Lalla, 24, an information technology student; Marvin Seebaran; and Sardiya Sharma, 23, a chemical engineering graduate, all died on the spot after their car flipped over several times and crashed into a Hilux. A report said the friends, all residents of the Sangre Grande district, were proceeding east along the main road at Sangre Chiquito around 1.14 am, when Lalla, who was driving, lost control of the car.
They had just left a “small lime” and had decided to go to Manzanilla beach, relatives said. The driver of the Hilux, Shane Leon, was taken to the Sangre Grande District Hospital where he was treated and discharged. During a brief interview at Balroop’s family home in Guaico, Terry Beekhee, Rikki’s uncle, said young drivers should pay more attention to road traffic regulations. “Most young drivers need to know what they are doing to avoid accidents...My advice to them is to study the regulations,” Beekhee said. Rikki’s brother, Hayden, said he was shocked to hear about the accident.
“I heard there were cars drag-racing and they crashed into the back of a Hilux,” he said. He had nothing but praise for his younger sibling. “He wanted to continue studying at John D (Technical Institute),” he said. “They were bright young people who would not do anything on a whim. They were the smartest people I know.” Balroop’s cousin, who refused to give his name, said he was saved, because he was “broke.” “He (Rikki) asked me continually to lime with him,” he said. “He was my cousin and we used to be very close. Money was short, or else you would be writing about me also.”
Lalla’s father, Gupta, expressed his condolences to the other families. “It is difficult to deal with...They grew up together,” Gupta said. Lalla was also Sharma’s boyfriend. Gupta said his son would have graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer technology. Sharma’s mother, Sita, said her daughter had been hoping for a job in chemical engineering. “It was her field...She didn’t want to teach,” the distraught mother said, weeping throughout the brief interview. “I can’t function...that was my only daughter.” Manzanilla police are continuing investigations.
They were bright young
They were bright young people who would not do anything on a whim. They were the smartest people I know.”....Quote.
This is nonsensical contradictory statement seen in a while, reminds me of ppl who's teenagers get shot by the police "he was very nice boy but got on the wrong tract" etc etc....
Its true that the media
Its true that the media distort sometimes... But when you try to make clarifications...Don't Bull$h!+, if you guys were moving as a convoy how the hell can a head on collision be made...if you say that you were moving under 80km.. didnt you see how bad that car was smashed up
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q8v3ZDlTOcs/S1RuAg1MqGI/AAAAAAAABj0/FU2YaMjTgC...
You say that the drivers didnt "partake in any form of excessive drinking" and that "By not having engaged in excessive drinking - we would have passed a Breathalyser test" - how can you possibly know that, do you have one at home?
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Im sorry, i truly am but your 'friends' just died and you are making clarifications...Im pleading with young drivers...obey the laws of the road...im saying this cause i know... i lost my family to drivers like your self who cant admit that youre wrong and that you were in fact drinking and driving......Thank you
Thanks for that
Thanks for that clarification SPK.
I have no reason to doubt you. Sadly, I cannot say the same for the three Trinidad and Tobago dailies, that seem to be in a race to "out-sensationalize" the others.
So often, they print a ton load of mis-information. The sad part is, people on this very medium, use the mis-information to mount their soap boxes, and start their daily sermons.
Stop the f@%#@%
Stop the f@%#@% speeding!!!
No amount of education will get it into these dumb trini heads. They refuse to wear seatbelts and they refuse to stop speeding.
Oh, and will someone explain to me how does someone lose control of a car while driving is a car capable of driving itself?
Yeah, I really wish the
Yeah, I really wish the media would ban the use of the phrase "lost control of the vehicle" it is SLOPPY reporting - it makes it sound as though the car got a mind of its own and caused the accident and not the driver/s.
Some clarifications..... Let
Some clarifications.....
Let me clear up some questions and rumours that have been spreading related to this tragedy; I was one of the other drivers moving with Mr. Lalla, I can give details that the media often distort.
1) Rickson was not drinking that night, well nothing stronger than a Shandy Sorrel, he would not look to partake in anything strong once he's behind a wheel. None of the drivers (there were 3 drivers present including myself) looked to partake in any form of excessive drinking for that matter.
2) We were not drag-racing, I don't know how that story came about because we were moving as a convoy, myself in front, and Rickson was at the end of the convoy when the accident occured.
3) The car did not flip and then hit into the Hilux, I believe they got that information mixed up. It was the other way around, not to mention it was a head-on collision...
I could not see the actual impact, as the Hilux had passed my vehicle by that time, so I can't say who hit who...but to me it no longer matters, saying who's right or wrong won't bring back my brothers.
RIP Marv, Rikki, Rickson and Saradiya.
*removed for double post by
*removed for double post by author*
To respond to some of the
To respond to some of the subsequent questions:
By not having engaged in excessive drinking - we would have passed a Breathalyser test. I will leave it at that. The individuals who were drinking were the 'designated drinkers'.
To back this up, reports from the autopsy proved that the driver of the vehicle had no significant levels of alcohol present.
To the poster relating to speed limits - I get what you are saying, but my point was that as a convoy, we wouldn't be 'drag racing' per se...
I had my position as being the lead, so that way I'd try to signal to any oncoming traffic to exercise caution. Furthermore, I was below 80km/h when approaching the oncoming vehicle prior to this accident, since it was just after a corner so speed had to be cut down.
Finally, as to the validity and honesty in my posts, if the individual doesn't wish to believe what I say, nothing I say can change their mind...but ask yourself why 3 newspapers had 3 differing reports relating to information about individuals and circumstances relating to this entire incident, and get back to me on it.
SPK let me first begin by
SPK let me first begin by offering condolences to you and the families of the victims during this time of bereavement.
Now to address your post....
Your account of the details seems to be misleading in a sense. You offered 'to give details that the media often distort' of an accident that you did not even witness, even though you claimed to be one of the drivers in the convoy. How then can the public view your statements as reliable and valid?
Even though you claimed that you were not drag racing because you were moving in a convoy, being in a convoy does not mean that you were not speeding. You can be in a convoy and still be driving over the speed limit.
After all that is said and done drivers need to exercise extreme caution whilst using the nation's roads. A speed limit is set for a reason and we should abide by it. Drivers need to remember that they don't only have a responsibility to look after their own safety whilst on the roads but they also have a responsibility to the passengers in their vehicles as well as other motorists using the road. We are not to assume that the road ways will be clear of vehicular usage at any given time of the day. The roads are for public use and therefore any member of the public could be using the roadways at any point in time, no matter the hour. So we need value and respect other fellow road users and drive with care AT ALL TIMES!!!
None of the drivers (there
None of the drivers (there were 3 drivers present including myself) looked to partake in any form of excessive drinking for that matter.
As James said, can you define excessive drinking? Many a Trini, in my experience (not that I have that much drinking experience, eh) have 'one for the road' firmly believing that they are fully in control (or capable of being in control) behind the wheel. Evidence proves otherwise.
Each person's alcohol tolerance is different, as is his/her limit. Your statement might seem to one in defence of your friends, but really, would a breathalyser have shown differently? Sadly, we will never know.
This is a sad, sad situation which will no doubt be repeated in the months to come. No lessons learnt. More crash dummies coming.
Jumbie's Watch
Sincerest condolences for
Sincerest condolences for your loss.
Please however, define excessive drinking according to you and how it relates to road safety. Re. your comment - None of the drivers (there were 3 drivers present including myself) looked to partake in any form of excessive drinking for that matter.
My burning question is, how much did you and the other drivers actually drink?
James (observing from Poland)
People will say all sorts of
People will say all sorts of stupid things, dude. But I know too many people who died at the wheel to be judgemental. It can happen to anyone, even if you're not tempting fate.
Hope you pull thru all right.
road safety education
road safety education
2020 vision where is it? All developed and 2020 aspiring to become developed nations have an ongoing active road safety campaign except us?
Smooth roads, fast cars but no road safety education being drummed into us
result: senseless loss of human life
these were productive humans
road accident and deaths affect everything: economy (GATE), public health (HOSPITAL CARE), social services (WHO TAKES CARE OF DEPENDENTS LEFT BEHIND-OLD PARENTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN)
Grief affects families and loved ones for years to come
yet this government is doing nothing
YOU INVESTED IN THESE YOUNG PEOPLE IN TERMS OF THEIR EDUCATION
BUT NEGLECTED TO EDUCATE THEM ON ROAD SAFETY
question???????????????????????????????????????????????????????
will the next government tackle this scourge
over 3000 people die per day world wide
Drinking + Speed = Death.
Drinking + Speed = Death. This is putting it in a nutshell. We have the breathalyser in effect already to curb the drunkards on the roads, but we also need the radar guns to nab the speedsters. Why is taking so long to have the appropriate legislation in place?Nevertheless, my condolences to the family of the bereaved.
4 young persons on the road
4 young persons on the road at 1.14 am after a 'small lime'.
Any likelihood one or more may have been drinking?
Jumbie's Watch
I think that the uncle said
I think that the uncle said it all when he made the appeal to all young drivers.
The thing is, there's a new style of driving here in T&T whereby drivers "cut" corners, drive on the shoulders, overtake long lines then cut in and so on.
http://dsaltsman.blogspot.com/