Three die in separate road traffic accidents

Two young men are dead and two remain in hospital after a traffic accident early Sunday morning, and an unidentified pedestrian was killed on Friday evening.

Reports are 19-year-old Jorrel Williams of Point Cumana was driving a blue Hyundai Elantra with three passengers along the Western Main Road when he lost control of the car just after the Westmoorings bridge, crashed into a fence, and spun several times before the car catching fire. Williams reportedly burned to death in the car. Justin Haynes, 20, also from Point Cumana, also died from his injuries. The two other passengers, Isaiah Luke of L’Anse Mitan Road, and a man known only as Toy, were taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital.

Newsday visited Williams’ home in Point Cumana, where friends had gathered to comfort the family, who declined to speak with the media.

The Prime Minister, who is MP for Diego Martin West, sent condolences to the families in a Facebook post, where he said, "Trying hard to cope with the many challenges as they come. Just heard of an accident in my constituency where persons were burnt to death in a motor vehicle. May we all be given the strength to carry each burden that we are called upon to bear. My thoughts go out to the affected families and communities in this time of great sadness."

In a release, the police said an unidentified male pedestrian was killed in a traffic accident on Friday at around 7 pm. He  was struck by a black Toyota RAV 4 SUV on the southbound lane of the Uriah Butler Highway near the Munroe Road Flyover. It said the driver is assisting Chaguanas police with the investigation.

The police said the two incidents brought 2021's road fatalities to 28, compared to 36 for the same period last year. It said although this represents a reduction of 22 per cent, these incidents are preventable. They are urging the public to exercise greater care, caution and responsibility when using the roads.