Works Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan is appealing to road users to be more responsible as two more lives were lost on the roads in two accidents on Monday night. He expressed regret about the indiscipline on the roads and the lack of value citizens were placing on their own lives and those of others. He said he would support stiffer penalties for reckless drivers to bring about more discipline and responsibility on the roads.
Motorcyclist Joseph Modeste, also known as Joel, died on the spot when he lost control of his bike and slammed into a wall at the Mafeking Community Centre around 7.20 pm on Monday. About two hours later, night watchman Rupert Thomas died after crashing into a bridge at Cross Crossing, San Fernando, some 50 feet away from his workplace at Carousel Gas Station. He was on his way to take up duty on the 10 pm shift.
Modeste, 31, a welder, was riding his Kawasaki motorcycle at a very high speed along the Naparima-Mayaro Road, when he crashed into the wall and died on impact. A large crowd gathered at the scene, where his body, with helmet still on, remained on the ground. His wife, Vennera Cammeron, and daughters, who were among those who rushed to the scene, were inconsolable. A villager said Modeste often went abroad to work and he and his family only recently moved into their home at Rio Claro Road, Mafeking Village, Mayaro.
The villager described Modeste as a productive and hard-working young man with ambition. In the second accident, around 9.40 pm, Thomas, 53, was driving his Sunny car along the Cross Crossing Interchange, San Fernando, on his way to work as a pump attendant and night watchman. His co-workers said he had gone to visit one of his brothers who was home from abroad, and was going to work when the accident happened.
They said they saw the Thomas’s car zig-zagging out of control on its way down the hill just before the gas station. Thomas crashed into the railing on the eastern side of the bridge. He was thrown out of the car as it spun around. He died on the spot. Southern Division police, among them Sgts Anthony Alexander and Mulchan Nanan, Insp Peter De Boulet and Senior Supt Cecil Santana, went to the scene of the accident.
Alexander is continuing investigations.