According to reports, 21-year-old Justin Nanan of Charles Street, La Romaine, was allegedly speeding along the main road in Chaguanas in his white Nissan Wingroad, when he slammed into the Clock and a street light at Busy Corner. The accident occurred some time after 9pm last night (Wednesday 15th September 2021). There is speculation he may have been speeding in an effort to beat the 9pm curfew.

Cpl Mohammed and Cpl Moralie responded to the report of the accident, where they found Nanan trapped behind the steering wheel of his vehicle. The Fire Services were called in to assist and they freed Nanan from the wreck. He was taken to the Chaguanas Health Facility where he was later pronounced dead.

Nanan is the country's latest road fatality victim.

[Source: T&T Guardian]

UPDATE: Reports indicate the driver of the vehicle escaped unharmed.

A car flipped over on the Beetham Highway near NP (heading out of Port-of-Spain) a short time ago, catching fire and causing all Eastbound lanes to be temporarily blocked as emergency responders arrive on the scene. Expect traffic delays heading both out of, and into, Port-of-Spain on the Beetham Highway this afternoon. Seek alternative routes if possible.

No further details are available at this time regarding the cause of the accident or whether there are any injuries.

This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.

A 19-year-old man was tragically killed in a car crash in Manzanilla on Saturday afternoon (28th August 2021), after attempting to overtake his brother’s car at an alleged high rate of speed. According to reports, the force of the impact was so severe that the vehicle split into two (2). The deceased has been identified as Alex Sookraj of Eastern Main Road, Manzanilla.

Around 3:40pm on Saturday, Police said Sookraj was driving a beige Mitsubishi Lancer, in a westerly direction along the Manzanilla/Mayaro road, with two (2) other occupants in the vehicle, when upon reaching the vicinity of the primary school, he attempted to overtake a silver Volkswagen, which was driven by his 21-year-old brother. In doing so, he came into contact with his brother's vehicle, causing the Lancer to run off the roadway. The vehicle reportedly collided with a concrete wall, where it split into two (2) upon impact.

Sookraj died on the spot. The other two (2) occupants of the car were thrown from the vehicle and taken to Hospital for medical attention.

A team of Officers led by Insp Ramlakhan responded and is continuing inquiries.

This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.

[Source: Loop]

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is extending condolences to the Sampath family for the loss of their loved one, Ryan Sampath, 23, who died in a tragic road traffic accident last night (Saturday 21st August 2021).

According to Police reports, at 8:55pm on Saturday night, a black Suziki Ignis was proceeding North along Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway with four (4) occupants on board when the driver lost control of the vehicle and veered off the road on the Western side of the Highway.

Officers of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch responded to the accident and found the driver lying motionless in the vehicle and the other occupants nursing injuries. The passengers were conveyed by the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service Ambulance to the Couva Hospital where District Medical Officer, Dr. Charles, visited the scene and pronounced the driver dead.

While the incident is now under investigation, the time of the collision was very close to the commencement of the 9pm curfew and caused severe damage to the vehicle and serious injuries to the other occupants. This, according to the TTPS Road Safety Coordinator, Sgt Brent Batson, suggest a high rate of travel speed.

The TTPS is again reminding motorists and citizens to exercise the greatest degree of responsibility while commuting on the roadways by managing their time to ensure compliance with the curfew requirements without placing themselves and other persons at risk.

“The TTPS maintains its visibility and vigilance during curfew hours and will consider only reasonable explanations such as going to the Hospital or Airport, once justified, would be entertained,” explained Sgt Batson.

Sgt Batson added, “There is no need to risk life and limb to try to speed to get to your destination quickly.”

The Road Safety Coordinator stressed, “The curfew is a tool implemented by the State to support public safety during the Pandemic and disobeying road safety regulations is an antithesis to its goal to help save lives."

For 2021, fifty-one (51) persons have died in road traffic accidents compared to sixty-four (64) for the same period last year.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is expressing its concern as five (5) road traffic deaths were recorded across the country over the weekend. The TTPS extended its sincere condolences to the families and friends of these victims and is reminding the public of the importance of exercising vigilance, responsibility, and sound judgment when using the nation’s roads.

According to the TTPS, around 8:10pm on Friday 16th July 2021, Officers attached to the Western Highway Patrol Unit responded to a road traffic accident, where a four-year-old child was fatally injured. The incident occurred when the child, along with his mother and his six-year-old brother attempted to cross the Eastbound carriageway of the Beetham Highway. They were struck by two (2) vehicles. The four-year-old was declared dead at the scene, while his mother and brother received serious injuries.

The carnage continued on Saturday 17th July 2021, when around 10:30am Officers from the Southern Division responded to a fatal road traffic accident along the M2 Ring Road, Golconda. The driver, Andre Ross, 22, from Mafeking Village, Mayaro, and the front seat passenger, Reane Nayan, 23, from Barrackpore, both lost their lives. It was reported that Ross lost control of his Honda Civic motor vehicle and collided with a Toyota Fortuner which was proceeding in the opposite direction.

Also on Saturday, Gilbert Pierre, succumbed to his injuries which he sustained when he was struck by a black Mercedes Benz on Monday 12th July 2021. The man of unknown age and address was struck while attempting to cross the Eastern Main Road in the vicinity of El Dorado.

Across on the sister isle of Tobago, the TTPS notes that on Sunday 18th July 2021, Nkosi Kerr, 26, of Mt. St. George, was riding his motorcycle when he collided with a white Isuzu pickup at Buccoo Road, Carnbee. Kerr sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene.

These five (5) road traffic deaths brought the number of persons who have lost their lives in road traffic accidents to forty-seven (47) for the year 2021, compared to fifty-seven (57) for the same period in 2020. Although this figure represents a 21% decrease, the TTPS said that “road fatalities continue to be of grave concern, as these incidents could have been prevented.”

“The State has relaxed some of the COVID-19 Regulations which has resulted in increased traffic along the roads. As a result, Commissioner of Police, Gary Griffith, has mandated increased road policing activities across the country. The Commissioner wishes to remind motorists that there has been no relaxation by the TTPS on the enforcement of road traffic rules, including traffic signs.”

The TTPS encourages citizens to “patronize food establishments in an effort to stimulate the economy and support local business.” However, they are imploring all drivers to pay attention to where they park their vehicles to purchase food items as a cheap meal can cost them an extra $1,000 if they do so in a no-parking area.

A tragic car accident on Saturday (17th July 2021) claimed the lives of Andre Ross, 22, and his girlfriend, Reane Nayan, also 22. The young couple were killed in a car crash at the M2 Ring Road in Debe, shortly after Ross picked up Nayan from her home in Barrackpore. Ross, of Mafeking Village, Rio Claro, and Nayan, died almost instantly after Ross, driving his newly-bought Honda Civic, collided with a Toyota Fortuna.

Ross was an entrepreneur and self-taught photographer. At 22, he had already established a banana bread venture and was carving his way into the business world. In June, Ross was featured in the ‘I Believe in Success Foundation’ online magazine where he spoke of his challenges in the business world and his drive for success. The online magazine also featured a captivating photograph of Ross’ chocolate chip banana bread.

The graduate in the field of journalism from the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (CoSTAATT), told the magazine writer that he taught himself photography using YouTube Videos and with the assistance of colleagues in the field. He legally registered his business, A/R Photography, in 2019 and several of his pictures from photoshoots were featured in the magazine.

Ross’ sister-in-law, Kate Ross, made the following statements on his Facebook profile:

Ross’ older sister, Renee Fernandez, said on Facebook, “RIP to my little brother and his girlfriend. God why do you only take the good ones???? We were supposed to celebrate his girlfriend birthday this month he made sure he purchase the car in time for it. He was very hard working and determine. God why???? No more banana bread, no more photography.”

Member of Parliament for Mayaro, Rushton Paray, expressed his condolences to the Ross and Nayan families, saying, "The Mayaro community has been thrown into mourning. While any loss of life is unacceptable, losing young people with bright futures is always hard. Mr. Ross was an industrious young man with a community heart."

He also noted, "We are losing citizens due to crime and the COVID-19 Coronavirus at an alarming rate. Let us commit to avoiding any more families having to endure this type of loss in the future. On behalf of the Mayaro Constituency, our condolences go out to the family and friends of Andre and Reane.”

Nayan would have celebrated her 23rd birthday later this month on 30th July 2021, with her twin sister, Liane, who said her sister and Ross were in a relationship for almost three (3) years and did everything together. She said she was certain the couple would have gotten married.

[Source: Trinidad Express]