[UPDATE] Two cousins killed in accident at Tableland

Seeta Bhagwandeen, 41, of Whiteland near Gasaprillo, had plans to attend a small Hindu prayer and spend Friday with family in Rio Claro.

But when her common-law husband Bachoo Baboolal, 52, began complaining of feeling unwell on Thursday night she opted to return home.

Her cousin, Chandrabhan Ramroop, 47, was part of the trip to drop her off at Poole Village.

It was while in George Village in Tableland on their way home, tragedy struck. The mother of one and Ramroop, also called Ban and Papoon, were killed in an accident.

The couple is from Paradise Avenue, Whiteland, and Ramroop lived at Whiteland Road in Williamsville, Ramroop’s sister Shoba Ramroop-Curban said.

He and the couple shared a very close bond, she said.

Ramroop-Curban told Newsday: "They went to drop her off because her family at Poole were preparing for a Hindu prayer today (Friday). When Bachoo reached, he complained about feeling unwell."

She referred to her brother as a loving and caring person.

"He would do anything for anyone. He always had people laughing, it could be at a wake, funeral or wedding. He was a jolly person and father of two boys."

Ramroop worked at a hardware store in Freeport.

Police said shortly after 7 pm on Thursday, a 29-year-old man from Forest Reserve Road in Fyzabad was driving the trailer truck loaded with steel pipes on the Naparima/Mayaro Road in Tableland. On reaching an incline near Manicou Trace, the truck had a mechanical failure causing it to roll back. It collided with the white Nissan Medalist behind, driven by Ramroop, pushing it into a river. Bhagwandeen, who was a back-seat passenger, as well as Ramroop, died at the scene. Baboolal was seated in the front and received non-life-threatening injuries as did the truck driver. Baboolal was treated and later discharged from the hospital.

Police, among them ASP Williams, Insp Pacheco, Sgts Hajaree and Sankar, Cpl Narine, WPC Beetan and PC Sooknanan visited the scene.

Under the supervision of FSO Samrath, Princes Town fire officers removed the wrecked car from the river.

Cpl Narine of the Tableland police station is investigating.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

An accident on Thursday night at Tableland claimed the lives of two cousins from Whiteland, near Gasparillo.

Sita Bhagwan, 41, and the man identified only as Papoon, both of Paradise Avenue, died at the scene near Manicou Trace in George Village. Bhagwan’s common-law husband, 52-year-old Bachoo Baboolal escaped with non-life-threatening injuries as did the truck driver.

Police said shortly after 7 pm on Thursday, a 29-year-old man from Forest Reserve Road in Fyzabad was driving the trailer truck loaded with steel pipes on the Naparima/Mayaro Road.

On reaching an incline near Manicou Trace, the truck had a mechanical failure causing it to roll back. It collided with the white Nissan Medalist behind, driven by Papoom, pushing it into a river. Bhagwan, who was a back seat passenger, and the driver, died at the scene.

Baboolal was seated in the front.

Police, among them ASP Williams, Insp Pacheco, Sgts Hajaree and Sankar, Cpl Narine, WPC Beetan and PC Sooknanan, visited the scene.

Under the supervision of FSO Samrath, Princes Town fire officers removed the wrecked car from the river.

Cpl Narine of the Tableland police station is investigating.